Hello Everyone

This Week’s Activities

Tuesday 21st – The Christmas Social Club 2pm to 3.30pm 

We are having a virtual Christmas party, wear a Xmas jumper, wear a funny hat, eat a mince pie as the choice is yours but if you want to join in and get a zoom invite then email tony@ccth.org.uk for a place – of course it is the best party in town.

Wednesday 22nd – Dementia Carers Peer Group 10.30am to 11.30am 

This is the last meeting of 2021 – we meet monthly via zoom to support each other as carers of someone with Dementia, so if this is something you feel you would benefit from then email tony@ccth.org.uk

REMINDER – YOU CAN CHECK THE CCTH CALENDAR – 

If you want to know what activities are on each day at the centre then check out the CCTH Calendar – https://ccth.org.uk/new/calendar/?cid=mc-03c4653fb809aa02e303ae7a3bb5520a&month=9&yr=2021

Then email me tony@cth.org.uk to book your place.

14 Fun Ways To Safely Celebrate Christmas At Home This Year

1 – Have a Christmas movie marathon.

2 – Host a virtual holiday party.

3 – Wear matching pajamas with your family or roommates.

4 – DIY an at-home photo booth for a photoshoot.

5 – Bake cookies for Santa—and yourself!

6 – Make a holiday-themed puzzle.

7 – Make Christmas breakfast from scratch.

8 – Create your own tree ornaments.

9 – Make a festive cocktail…or three.

10 – Read a classic Christmas book.

11 – Plan a family game night at home.

12 – Sing Christmas songs at home with a karaoke night.

13 – Deck the halls with all the Christmas decorations you can find.

14 – Just have fun, relax and keep well

Nominate your local hero

There’s still time to nominate a special person who lives, works or studies in the borough and is dedicated to improving the lives of others.

Nominations for the Tower Hamlets Civic Awards close on Friday 7 January 2022.

Make a nomination >

We Need You …..

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Chair to lead the Carers Centre Tower Hamlets through its next chapter of development and growth.The Carers Centre, Tower Hamlets works to enrich the lives of unpaid carers across Tower Hamlets and beyond. We ensure that unpaid carers can access the resources they need to carry out their caring role and we help them to enjoy a life beyond caring. We offer a holistic range of services, from information, advice and advocacy around statutory support available, to training, therapeutic and social activities that give carers much needed connection and respite.

Last year we supported 1,600 carers to have the right information, necessary resources and key skills to enable them to have the confidence to effectively undertake their important caring role.

The role and contribution of unpaid carers in society has never been more visible or important. An estimated 25,000 people in Tower Hamlets provide unpaid care for a friend, relative or partner with health issues and collectively our unpaid carers make a huge contrition to the community and society.

This is an exciting phase for the Carers’ Centre as we launch a new strategy and look to expand our reach, networks and resources. We are looking for a compassionate Chair with the experience to lead us through this period of growth and to provide strong strategic direction and support, alongside a committed Board of Trustees.

The Chair’s commitment will be approximately 6 – 8 hours per month. It is a rewarding voluntary position that will provide the successful candidate with interest, challenge and fulfilment. If you are looking to invest your skills and experience in a charity that tangibly makes a positive difference to individuals’ lives, and which is an essential part of the community in Tower Hamlets, then we would love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications is 31 January 2022. For more information and how to apply, please visit the opportunity being advertised on Reach Volunteering.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact the Chief Executive Graham Collins at graham@ccth.org.uk or phone on 020 7791 5561.

The Carers Centre is recruiting new trustees. As a Trustee, you will contribute to the direction of the Carers Centre and ensure its services are having a positive impact on carers in Tower Hamlets. Working closely with the Chief Executive you will set the direction of the organisation and make key decisions on how the charity operates to meets its goals.

Being a Trustee is a great way to enhance your development goals while making a difference to a cause that is meaningful to you. It allows you to develop new skills or apply existing skills to new real-life situations, meet new people and network—all whilst bringing a sense of fulfilment to yourself and those you are helping.

We have a skilled and experienced Board of Trustees but recognise we need to broaden our knowledge of income generation, organisational development and digital communications. We are therefore seeking motivated and committed individuals to join our Board.

If you have recent working knowledge in this area and are interested in making a positive difference for carers and their families in Tower Hamlets then we would like to hear from you.

It is important to us that our Board reflects the diversity of the carers we serve.  We welcome applicants from all sections of our community irrespective of age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances.

Timescales and Fees

It is expected that fulfilling the role of Trustee will require the equivalent of approximately 8 days per year.

The role of Trustee of the Carers Centre is voluntary, although reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed according to the rates agreed by the Board.

Closing date for applications is 31 January 2022. For more information and how to apply, please visit the opportunity being advertised on Reach Volunteering.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact the Chief Executive Graham Collins at graham@ccth.org.uk or phone on 020 7791 5561.

Rubbish collections: Christmas and New Year dates confirmed

With Christmas Day and Boxing Day falling on a Saturday and Sunday this year, crews will work over the deferred bank holidays on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December, meaning that usual collection days for households across the borough will remain unaffected this year during both Christmas and New Year.

Read more >

Covid-19 in Tower Hamlets

Read the latest update on Covid-19 from our Director of Public Health, Dr Somen Banerjee, including the latest on the Omicron variant, case numbers locally and the rollout of the booster campaign.

Read the update >

18 and over – get boosted now!

This week everyone 18 and over became eligible to get the Covid-19 booster jab. Boosters can be given 3 months after having the second vaccine and there are more clinics than ever now offering jabs to residents.

Remember, it is not too late to get your jab – first, second or booster. Vaccination remains the best way to fight the Covid-19 virus and prevent serious illness. Book or walk in to get your vaccine.

Find out more >

Volunteer – vaccination site marshals needed

Vaccination site marshals are urgently needed to support GP practices in Tower Hamlets to deliver Covid-19 vaccines, including booster jabs. Volunteers will act as a reassuring presence at vaccination sites across the borough. Marshals are non-clinical roles – volunteers will not be administering jabs.

You do not need to commit to the same shift or site every week, so roles are very flexible and can fit around your other commitments. Shifts generally last 3 or 4 hours.

Sign-up today >

Wondering what to do this Christmas?

Head over to our Local Offer website to explore a wide range of useful resources covering the Christmas period, including fun family activities, events, music, dance, Covid-19 advice, and much more.

Visit the local offer >

Did You Know we have a weekly Shared Reading Group?

How does it work?

A group of carers, one of them a trained Reader Leader, reads a great novel, short story or poem aloud. We stop and talk about what we have read. There is no need for carers to read aloud or speak – it’s fine to just listen. The idea is to create a space where people feel at ease.

Reading the literature aloud in real-time, means that everyone is involved in a shared, live experience. Carers are encouraged by the Reader Leader to respond personally, sharing feelings, thoughts and memories provoked by the reading.

Everyone experiences the text in their own way, but the literature provides a shared language that can help us to understand ourselves – and others – better.

It can even help with your ESOL needs.

If this is for you then email tony@ccth.org.uk

The ULEZ charges come into effect today, there is a grace period until 2025 for people who claim Vehicle tax exemption, you can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you get the:

• higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

The vehicle must be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name.

It must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. It cannot be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use.

You can only have one vehicle tax exemption at any one time. For more information see here https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vehicles-and-transport

For more information about ULEZ exemptions see here https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions#on-this-page-0

WALKING ALONE? REMEMBER THESE 10 TIPS

1) Plan Your Route

Make sure you plan your route ahead of time. If you are walking in an area you are not familiar with, this can help keep you from getting lost. You will be able to walk with confidence. If you do get lost, don’t wander aimlessly, find a gas station, supermarket, or fast-food restaurant where you can ask for directions.

2) Make Sure Someone Else Knows Your Plans

Don’t go out when it is dark without telling someone, even if you are just taking the dogs out for a walk around your neighborhood or walking home from a friend’s house nearby. It may seem paranoid, but in fact, knowing someone knows where you are can be reassuring and help you feel safe. If you fall and hurt yourself or run into trouble, and someone knows where you are, they can send help if you don’t arrive at your destination on time.

3) Always Carry Your Phone with You

Always carry your phone, but not for music or to make social calls as your walk. Your phone can be a lifeline if you see something suspicious or worse if something happens to you. Download a safety app on your phone, so you’ll be able to discreetly alert the authorities if you feel threatened or see something suspicious.

4) Avoid Suspicious People and Areas

Areas that are dark, deserted, or out-of-the-way, such as an alley or a parking lot, can be riskier than a well-lit area full of people. Stick to busy, lighted paths, to minimize the risks. Also, walk mainly in familiar places where you are known. That way, if you feel like a suspicious person is following you, you can always duck into a store you know or knock on a neighbor’s door. Avoid empty streets and pathways with thick shrubbery.

5) Keep Your Hands Free

Except for a flashlight and one of the items discussed below, keep your hands free. If you are carrying anything, put it all in one bag or backpack. This will make it easier for you to react if you notice someone following you. In a dangerous situation, carrying too many bags can keep you from moving as quickly as you can if your hands are free or if you only have one bag.

6) Carry a Non-Violent Deterrent

In addition to a flashlight, carry a non-violent deterrent such as a whistle, mace, or pepper spray. A whistle will help you alert others and call them to aid you if something is wrong. The loud noise may put off attackers, and they’ll move on to find someone else. Mace or pepper spray can give you enough time to evade a potential attacker, and in a pinch, a flashlight can be used as a weapon. Make sure you know how to use the mace or pepper spray to get its full effect.

7) Wear Reflective Clothing to Prevent Accidents

When it comes to personal safety, it’s not just about suspicious people. Areas with low visibility can be prone to accidents. Reflective clothing allows bikers and cars to see you as you walk along. A flashlight or headlight can also help drivers see you if there are dark stretches of road on your route.

8) Take a Self-Defense Class

When fighting off something as an assault, the element of surprise can work in your favor. If you regularly walk alone, take a self-defense class. You don’t have to become a black belt. In fact, it’s probably better to learn something like Krav Maga, which has been popular for self-defense. The idea is to disable your attacker enough for you to get to safety, and a class focused on self-defense will help give you those survival skills.

9) Remove Any Distractions

Keep your phone in your hand in case you need to hit the panic button on your safety app, but don’t let it distract you. When walking alone at night for exercise, music can be motivating and energizing but also distracting. You may not hear someone driving or walking up behind you. Avoid wearing headphones or talking on your phone as you walk.

10) Trust Your Gut

When walking alone at night, trust your gut. If you feel like an area or situation may be dangerous, don’t wait around to find out. Stop and scan your surroundings if you think someone is following you. If you are being followed, walk as quickly as you can to a well-lit public place. You can wait until you feel safe, or call a friend, a taxi, or an Uber to help you get safely get home at night.

Following these personal safety tips will help keep you stay safe when walking alone. Always be aware of where you are and alert to suspicious activity.

REMINDER TO CARERS

If you still need PPE for you and your loved one then Tower Hamlets are still providing PPE for Carers.

Collection and delivery is on Wednesday only from Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, E14 2BG. Carers can call or email Ayeda directly 0n 07366977103 or ayeda@ccth.org.uk to order.

Check out a new free course that has just been launched that focuses on carer wellbeing. It is called ‘Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role’ and has been kindly endorsed by the Carers Trust. The course is 6 hours in length and learners can achieve a ‘badge’ on completion of the end quiz, and this can be added on a CV to evidence their learning/continuous professional development. We hope that it will be helpful to those working with carers, including carer centre staff, those supporting carers less formally and importantly carers themselves!

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/physical-activity-health-and-wellbeing-the-caring-role/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab