Hello Everyone

Today I would like to diuscuss and highlight getting the Flu Jab this Autumn, as the Government renewed calls for people to get vaccinated against the influenza virus as soon as possible.

Cases of Coronavirus flu and other respiratory infections are likely to surge in the months ahead, experts say, culminating in increased hospitalisations and rising pressure on health services across England.

I would also recommend you have your booster Covid -19 Jab so that you all can be as fit, safe and healthy as possible over the cold winter months.

Don’t forget to have a lovely weekend, keep warm, have fun and look after yourselves and your loved ones.  Funny say that as I know you are all amazing at looking after your loved ones.


 

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.


London is in the midst of a housing crisis.

During October, we’re highlighting some of the work we’re doing locally to tackle the crisis, to deliver new homes, and to support residents to find a place to call home.

One of the most important things we’re doing as a council to tackle the housing crisis is to deliver new council homes.

We’ve pledged to plan for up to 2,000 new council homes by 2022, and we are on track to hit this target. We’ve already delivered 1,055 new council homes.

This includes new homes we’re building, those we’re buying-back and others we’re purchasing from developers. We’ve also identified sites for a further 1,000.

This is in addition to thousands more affordable homes being delivered by housing partners in the borough.

Whether it’s giving a child their own room or providing an accessible flat for someone with a disability, each home will be truly transformative.

Supporting private renters is also an important part of our work, and that’s why we introduced a private renters charter and have taken action through licensing and enforcement – using our powers to tackle rogue landlords.

Through our Building Safety Pledge we’re also supporting leaseholders, many of whom are suffering stress and anxiety because they are living in a potentially unsafe building, and others who saved to get on the housing ladder and who now feel trapped.

We recently provided an update on some of our new developments including the 115 council flats as part of a development in Poplar which were delivered this year and the 53 new council homes in progress at Bethnal Green.

We are continuing to help residents find more affordable housing options through the launch of our Intermediate Housing Register. This supports people on low to average incomes find a secure home and help tackle the housing waiting list.

Finally, we were recently successful in securing funding from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26. This £32m grant will help fund an additional 194 new homes for social rent and is a huge endorsement on our ability to deliver on our ambitious plans to tackle the housing crisis


Community Fibre has given 12 month free internet/broadband for THH residents only. We would like to offer this service to vulnerable residents who may be digitally excluded.

 Please note devises will not be provided.

CCTH will collect names of any carers interested and who can/will benefit from this offer, can you please send me your names and address by the 29th of October.

so we can pass them onto Community fibre.


Help to shape our council budget

Residents, businesses, and local organisations are urged to take part in the council’s budget consultation, launched this week.

Despite challenges posed by government cuts, increases in the number of vulnerable residents and a rising population, Tower Hamlets Council has the seventh lowest council tax in London and continues to invest in the services that matter to residents. The consultation is your chance to get involved in the budget process which plans for the council’s income and expenditure in the year ahead.

Give your views >


World Mental Health Day

Sunday 10 October is World Mental Health Day. If you or someone you know needs support, there is a range of free services you can access. A free mental health crisis line is also available 24 hours a day on 0207 771 5807, where callers are given support and advice from mental health professionals.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Thrive LDN and the Mayor of London’s Peer Outreach Team is hosting a free film screening at Rich Mix that brings together performances, panels discussions and conversations. Designed by young Londoners. The theme of this year’s festival of events is Never Alone LDN.

Book your ticket >


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.


 

 

 

 

 

Next Weeks Activities 

11th October

Therapy Day – CCTH – 10am to 3pm

Shared Reading for Carers – CCTH – 11am to 12 noon

 

12th October

Renal Carers Support Group – ZOOM – 11am to 12.30pm

CREATE – Ceramics – CCTH – 11am to 1pm

Carers Forum – CCTH – 2pm to 3.30pm

13th October

Carers of people with a Learning Disability & Autism – CCTH – 11am to 1pm

Young Adult Carers Group – CCTH – 5.30pm to 7.30pm

 

14th October

New Carer Induction – CCTH – 11am to 12 noon

Arts & Craft Group – CCTH – 11.00am to 12.30pm

Walking Thursdays/Health Walks – CCTH/Outdoors – 1pm to 2pm

WeConnectCommunties Hub – CCTH – 2pm to 3pm

15th October

ESOL Class – CCTH – 12.30pm to 2.30pm


 

Thought-provoking and feel-good activities for Black History Month

We are hosting and supporting a varied programme of activities, offering residents and the wider public the opportunity to engage with the richness of Black arts, culture and history this October as we mark Black History Month.

Activities and events include live music, film, workshops, art, theatre, talks and more.

Don’t miss the photography exhibition Beauty and Power. Alternative Arts presents ten black artists who have been brought together for the first time to exhibit their photography at the Brady Arts Centre during the month. The show is a celebration of black culture, perception and moving personal experience.

Celebrate Black History month >


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.


Museum of London

 

We are re-starting our dementia-friendly gallery tours!

Living London Moments Tours

On Wednesday 13th October, 2pm – 3pm join us at the Museum of London

Join us on a tour of our galleries! These relaxed tours, led by our knowledgeable hosts, will give you insights into our amazing collections through sensory, interactive experiences. Each tour focusses on a different theme and are held at both our sites. In October we will be exploring the theme ‘when we were young’ at our Museum of London site, London Wall.

We’re having a little difficulty with our website so if anyone wants to book please do email me directly and I will get you booked on!

We are also starting monthly artist-led workshops which explore our collections in a creative, interactive way..

Time Together

This is a creative, sensory workshop, led by different artists each month, which explore the collections of the museum through song, story and creativity. Held in our immersive galleries we use our collections as inspiration to spark creativity and conversation. Each workshop is free but must be booked using the links below or by emailing me directly. Any questions please contact memories@museumoflondon.org.uk.

These are all held at the Museum of London Docklands.

Wed 20th October, 2pm – 3pm

Wed 5th Nov, 10.30am – 11.30am

Wednesday 1st December, 10.30am – 11.30am

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/event-detail?id=289008

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/event-detail?id=289008&s=true&day=1635897600

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/event-detail?id=289008&s=true&day=1638316800

 


 

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


 

Next Group Session is Wednesday 13th October 11am to 1pm 

We Will be having someone coming from the Transistion Team to help you understand their role, the team’s criteria and how thery can help your family member movge into adulthood.  We will also have a presentation on PIP and what to expect when completing the application form, when the benefit is up for review and the langauge to use.

 


 

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



Genesis Cinema showcases Black History Month film season

Our programme of activities for Black History Month continues throughout October, giving residents and the wider public the opportunity to engage with the richness of Black arts, culture and history.

Tower Hamlets residents can visit Genesis Cinema for free from 10 – 13 October for London Throughout the Decades, a season showcasing key London set films by Black filmmakers, including Franco Rosso’s Babylon – a film which captures the trials and tribulations of young black youths in troubled London in the early eighties, and more.

What’s on >


Are you a council tenant? Have your say!

Our tenancy agreement has been in place for many years and it is important that we make sure it is up to date and fit for purpose.

We are carrying out a review of the rules to make sure it takes account of changes in law and reflects best practice across the housing sector. We want to hear your views. Please fill in the survey to have your say.

Have your say >


 

Important Numbers:

Unpaid carers can still access FREE PPE supplies. If you would like to receive PPE, Please contact the Carers Centre on 0207 790 1765 or Ayeda directly.

Domestic Violence Duty Line:  020 7364 4986 between 9am – 5pm.Victim Support:  020 7364 2448/7957


Just wishing everyone a peaceful, safe and week and remember if you need information and advice from the Carers Centre just email enquiries@ccth.org.uk

Tony Collins-Moore
Carers Academy Manager

 

Get in touch

The Carers Centre
21 Brayford Square
London, E1 0SG

020 7790 1765

enquiries@ccth.org.uk

Opening hours

Monday - Friday – 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – Closed

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