Hello Everyone As we approach the end of the year - with many of us planning to celebrate and spend time with family and friends over the coming weeks - my thoughts this week have been focused on all the amazing people and community groups across our borough who day-in and day-out support and protect our most vulnerable residents. Last week, I was wowed by the shining light of some phenomenal community organisations doing the most amazing things as part of the social action Transform Newham network. I’ll be joining in with some volunteering at the night shelters and foodbanks that have been set up over this Christmas period to help those who are homeless or lonely, including the one at Bonny Downs Church in East Ham. I spent time on Monday meeting families of people affected by dementia in Newham, a terrible condition that deeply impacts families and carers. I’m committed to doing more to help and support our fantastic carers across the borough. Homelessness is another terrible scourge on our society and something this Council is committed to preventing whenever possible. That’s why news from the Government this week was welcome. We’ll be allocated £24.4 million in homelessness and rough sleeping funding for the next two years; the highest allocation of any local authority in the country. This is £6.7 million higher than last year, reflecting our ongoing commitment to addressing homelessness and supporting our most vulnerable residents while providing solutions for families and individuals in need. This funding will strengthen our homelessness prevention services, reduce rough sleeping, and help more people into sustainable housing. We won’t be doing this alone and will continue to work with partners across health, housing, the voluntary sector, and community networks to end homelessness and create a fairer Newham for all. One of the key charities working with those who are homeless at this time of year is Crisis, which does a truly fantastic job. This week, I accompanied the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner MP; the Homelessness Minister, Rushanara Ali MP; and London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to the Crisis at Christmas warehouse in Canning Town to talk about the important work they do alongside local authorities and other partners to support the most vulnerable this festive season and beyond. Newham will also host a Crisis UK day centre in Stratford, which is expected to support around 300 people each day from Christmas Eve, providing hot meals and a wide range of other assistance. It’s a sobering thought, but our own Newham Food Alliance continues to support around 4,500 households per week throughout the year, including more than 2,500 households with children. For far too many - particularly families with children - rising rental and other cost of living pressures is making even the most straightforward purchases, like food, a massive challenge. This time of year can also be very difficult for residents for many reasons. That’s why several services will continue to provide vital support over the holiday season, including: - StreetLink, which works with us at the Council to support rough sleepers. You can make a referral via their website or call: 0300 500 0914.
- The Newham Mental Health Crisis Line, open 24 hours a day to support people of all ages in Newham experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency. Run by mental health professionals, the helpline is free to call and available 24/7. Just call: 0800 073 0066 when needed, or visit their website.
- Newham’s Healthy Mind website, which is filled with advice, guidance, and links to services to help keep your mind healthy. This includes resources on mental health, connecting with others, volunteering in your community, and coping with bereavement. Please visit the Well Newham website for more information.
Here at the Council, some services will pause, while others will operate on a Christmas and New Year schedule. Take a look at the Council’s website for the latest information, including opening days, hours, and emergency contact details. You can also check your revised weekly recycling collection day there. Before I sign off I hope you have a great time celebrating! Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or another festive tradition, have a joyous time over this festive season! And don’t forget your rest time! I’ll be in touch early in the New Year and as we look ahead to 2025 - let’s embrace the prospects and possibilities coming!
Best wishes,
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz |
