Enjoying a crime-free Christmas

A great Christmas can be ruined if criminals get involved but some simple steps can keep the burglars away.

At home Use a timer switch to operate lights and a radio when you’re not at home – Havering residents can collect a free timer from the Police Shop, opposite Poundland in Laurie Walk, the Liberty centre, while stocks last Keep tools and ladders locked away so burglars can’t use them Close and lock doors and windows, even if popping out for “just a few minutes” Keep presents out of sight – make sure they can’t be seen through a window When the presents are opened keep the packaging out of sight, especially for expensive or electrical items, - tear the boxes up and put out the recycling bags only on the day they will be collected Never leave the key in your car ignition when parked outside your home Keep your car keys well away from letterboxes so thieves can't hook them out while you're asleep

Festive fun at the Older People's Christmas Party

​Older residents enjoy the Christmas party

​Around 55 of the borough’s older residents enjoyed a festive lunch at the YMCA in Romford on Tuesday (16 December). 

​The successful Older People’s Christmas Party was organised by the Council for some of the borough’s most isolated and vulnerable individuals. The event allowed the residents to come together and enjoy a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, while meeting new people and socialising. 

There was entertainment from Havering Music School, bingo and a raffle with various prizes. 

Volunteers helped out at the event, getting people to and from buses, as well as serving the food and clearing the tables.

Father Christmas and one of his elves also helped out on the day, providing entertainment and helping to serve the food.

Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of the Council, said:

“Christmas is a time when older people can feel quite isolated, especially if their loved ones are no longer with them and family don’t live nearby, and also if they can’t get out for mobility reasons or because of the cold weather. This event gave residents an opportunity to eat a good dinner and celebrate Christmas with other like-minded people, and I’m really pleased it was such a success.”

Carers Event at the Queen's Theatre

Carers from across Havering find out about help and support at open day

Thursday 04 December 2014

​Exhibitors from the event with Dame Angela Watkinson MP and Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health

​Havering carers flocked to a special open day held specifically for those who care for others to find out about the help and support available to them in the borough, on Friday 28 November.

​Held at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, the event was run by the Havering Association for people with Disabilities (H.A.D), along with Havering Council and the Havering Safer Neighbourhood Board, to mark the national Carers Rights Day.

 

As well as H.A.D, there were other voluntary organisations there to speak to people about how they may be able to help them, as well as Council officers talking about the support it provides to carers.

 

Organisations attending included the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Alzheimer’s Society, and carers were also able to find out more about the new Care Act 2014, and how it may affect them.

 

Several attendees signed up to the Council’s carers’ register on the day so they will receive a carers’ newsletter and be updated on future similar events.

 

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, and Health, who attended the event, said:

 

“I was pleased to see so many local organisations and carers at this event. We have many people in our borough who give up their time to care for others, and some may not even realise they are a carer.

 

“But no carer should do it all on their own. There is support out there and we want to ensure everyone who should have it, knows about it. The Care Act will also bring in changes which affect all carers, so it’s important they know about it, and what it will mean for them.”

 

Anyone unable to attend but who would like to sign up to the carers’ register, as well as receive regular updates, can email carersservices@havering.gov.uk.

 

Carers can also sign-up online to receive the e-bulletin, care connect, or by emailing careact@havering.gov.uk.

Electric Blanket Testing

                        Age UK Electric Blanket Testing

Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering is running an Electric Blanket Testing Event for Older People to prepare for the colder winter months by having FREE Electric Blanket Testing.

The Event will be taking place on:

Date: Friday 19th December 2014

Time: 10am – 4:30pm

Venue: Liberty Shopping Mall, Romford.

On the day, blankets will be tested by a company that specialises in Blanket Testing and has worked with Age UK’s across the country in running these events. We will check that your Electric Blanket is working properly and is safe to use.

It is very important that your Electrical Blanket is regularly tested to ensure that it is safe to use and so we are urging all Older People with an Electric Blanket to come and have it tested or if you have an older relative, friend, neighbour that may not be able to come along then you can bring their blanket along for testing.

You will also have the opportunity to speak to a member of our Advice & Information Service who will be promoting our Spread the Warmth Campaign and so you can speak to an Advice Worker about: Benefits Checks, Winter FuelPayments, Warm Home Discount, Practical Advice on keeping Warm over winter, Information on Energy Efficiency, Tariff Checks to ensure that you are on the right energy tariff in order to reduce gas & electricity bills, advice on using your electric blanket safely and information from Trading Standards about accessing approved traders as well as lots of other useful information about local services that will be able to offer help and support during the cold winter months. We shall be giving out Winter Warmth Information Packs which include a free room thermometer and recipe book.

If you have an Electric Blanket that you would like tested, please call Priti Mistry on 020 8220 6000 for further information or to book an appointment for your Electric Blanket to be tested on the day.

Tis’ the season to be jolly in Romford Market Place

​A bright green magical postbox, will appear near the Clock Tower end of Romford Market on Wednesday 3 December, for all the good boys and girls to send their letters to Father Christmas.

​Father Christmas is looking forward to receiving lots of letters from children visiting Romford Market to help him decide what to bring them on Christmas Eve. He will do his best to reply to every child who writes to him via the magical postbox.  Father Christmas has asked that all children write their name and address clearly on their letter, because his friends at Havering Council will be posting the replies for him and they don’t have his magical powers.

 

As Father Christmas is very busy, all letters must be received by Wednesday 17 December to ensure he has time to reply before loading up his sleigh in preparation for his busiest night of the year.

 

The postbox will be in the Market Place on market days only, and from Friday 12 December, the market will be open every day, including Sundays, up to and including Christmas Eve. 

 

“Christmas is such a magical time, and especially for children! I hope all kids in the borough have the chance to write their letter to Father Christmas and post it in the special postbox. Parents can then enjoy seeing their faces light up when they get their reply!” said Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment.

 

It’s hoped that the festive atmosphere and Christmas cheer will draw people in from far and wide to take advantage of the diverse range of stalls offering everything they’ll need this Christmas, including fresh meat and fish, fruit and veg, the latest fashions, cards and wrapping and lots of gift ideas.

 

Councillor Benham added: “Christmas spirit has most certainly arrived in the borough, and as always, we’ve arranged lots of things that families and friends can come along to and enjoy together. I hope everyone gets involved and joins in the celebrations.”

 

Residents can also enjoy a whole host of activities arranged in the market place in the run-up to Christmas:

​Saturday 6 December	​Children’s face painting
​Saturday 13 December	​Children’s face painting  Hornchurch Drum & Trumpet Corps
​Sunday 14 December	​The Haverettes All Girls Marching Band, and for the first time, A Christmas Vintage Market
​Saturday 20 December	​Free Children’s face painting  Costumed Reindeer and Santa Bear  The Hornchurch Drum  & Trumpet Corps   The Haverettes All Girls Marching Band
​Sunday 21 December	​Free Children’s face painting
​Monday 22 December	​Real reindeer ‘Rudolph and Comet’ in the Market before they start their epic journey on Christmas Eve
​Tuesday 23 December	​A Magical Christmas Puppet Show with three shows between 11am and 4pm​