35% Campaign update – The shopping centre traders expelled by regeneration

Posted by tgntra

The shopping centre traders expelled by regeneration

Aug 24, 2020 12:00 am

University of the Arts ignores traders’ plight -In our last blog post we detailed how Up the Elephant and other campaigners had written to the University of the Arts, London (UAL), informing them that at least 28 traders had not been relocated new premises, as they face the closure of their businesses, to make way for the demolition and redevelopment of the shopping centre. Analysis by Latin Elephant puts the number of traders in peril at between fourty and fifty.

All the displaced traders (bar one) come from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and the campaigner’s letter demanded that UAL withdraw from the redevelopment, which includes a new UAL campus, in line with its Black Lives Matter statement “We aim to build our anti-racism commitments through collective engagement into actions that make a meaningful difference.”

No reply from UAL

Nearly a month after the letter was sent no reply has been received. We are printing below the stories of six of the displaced traders, in their own words, to prompt UAL into giving some thought to those who are losing their livelihoods so that they can benefit from shiny new premises. Southwark Council and developer Delancey might also want to take heed.

Nassim Cheraitain

My name is Nassim Cheraitian, I’ve been trading at Elephant and Castle market for over 20 years. The closing down of the Shopping Centre, for us, wasn’t good news, because they haven’t helped us. For the last three, four, five years business has been down, we’ve been losing, losing… they promised us they would help to find us to find a new unit but they didn’t. I applied, they asked us for all our details […] we provided them with everything. After that they said that there isn’t space for everyone. And it’s been left like this. We don’t have anywhere to go. They [the council] gave us £3000, but honestly it’s not really [been helpful]. £3000 is nothing — three years ago they told us they would help us, so all that time we’ve been waiting, the business has gone down, we’ve been losing money, losing customers every day, and we were waiting to get something back. Instead we got £3000. I don’t have any plans, as I’ve been waiting to get this promised help from the council […] we’ve been here for too long for them to leave us like this […] [my customers] are unhappy, they think it is unfair to us, we’ve been here too long to be left with nothing—no shop, no unit, nothing.

Shapoor Amini

My name is Shapoor Amini, I’ve worked at this market since 2001. These people promised us so many things, they said we’ll give you a space, we’ll look after you guys, but they’ve done nothing for us. Some people who were [trading] here for one year, two years, 6 months, they got a space. Me, I’ve been here 20 years, and they gave me nothing; they just said sorry, sorry, you still need to wait. And I don’t know what’s going on. I had someone who worked for me who got a space! But I’ve been here for twenty years and nothing. I applied so many times—I’ve made calls, been to the council, been to the office, done lots of paperwork […] been to countless meetings, and still nothing. I don’t know why not, they never talk to us face to face. They sent letters out […]some people got something, others didn’t […] everybody knows me here […] customers come to me as say ‘where is your new space?’, and I say I don’t know. My whole life has been spent in this market, in this area, and now I don’t know what to do. It’s very difficult for me. I have a kids, a wife… they said if you find yourself a shop we will help you. But at this late stage how can I find a shop? […] they promised us too much. Places are asking for a £30,000 deposit, it is very difficult.

Edmund Attoh

My name is Edmund, I’m working here [at the market] over 20 years. Things are very difficult, they gave a space to some people, who’d been here 5 years, 4 years, 2 years, people who have been here for a long time didn’t get nothing. That’s what we don’t understand, that’s why we are frustrated. We don’t know where we are going now. I applied for a space, and anything they asked, we give to them. They turned us down. But they didn’t say [why]. It has affected us […] someone who has been here for 20 years, and suddenly they say go. We don’t know where we are going. It is very hard for us. My customers always call me and ask where we are going. But we don’t know what to tell them […] that is a problem for us […] we’re looking to them (the council) […] we need help.

Mohammed Jamal

My name is Mohammed Jamal, I’m working in the market the last 8 years. I’m in a very bad situation, because I haven’t found a relocation […] I’ve got four children, and i’ve got no choice [but to work at the market] because I’m more than 55 now, and can’t find any other suitable job, and I’ve also got an illness I take medicine for […] customers ask ‘where are you going’ I said I still can’t find relocation […] because the council says there is no more relocation, it is all full. But I am still waiting for something to come up. One lady told me I’m not even on the waiting list […] she said your application is on file but not on the waiting list […] because there are so many people and the relocation spaces are limited […] I applied many times for a space […] and a small shop is alright for me […] I sent many emails, but no answer. The feeling of not having anything is very painful. If someone doesn’t speak English very well, or is softly spoken […] I am very soft, not talking a lot. That could be why no-one helped me.

Muhammad Raza

My name is Muhammad Raza, I’m working here since 2006. The market is dead now, before it was alright, but slowly, slowly they are closing down shops, big stores—Tesco, Poundland, Boots is going—it’s really dead now so it’s really hard to survive. And because we don’t have a space we don’t know what to do. Tree Shepherd and Delancey aren’t answering our emails, actually I emailed two days ago and didn’t get a response. This morning Tree Shepherd called me and said ‘if you find yourself any shop, we’ll help you’, I said which kind of help? Because I’m looking for a shop […] but if I look myself shops are £15,000, £20,000—I can’t afford that rent. And Tree Shepherd said they don’t have any affordable rents. If your looking for Castle Square or Elephant One, don’t even think about it […] they said ‘we’ll help you’, but which kind of help? I don’t know. This has affected my business, my life, my family, I don’t know what to do next.

Mohammed Al Waris

“My name is Mohammed Al Waris, I’ve been trading at the Elephant and Castle market for the past 15 plus years. Throughout these years I’ve been selling fashion accessories, and I’ve made friendships within the local community. Recently what happened was that they tried to demolish the shopping centre, and that affected most of the traders’ lives, I’m one of them. We haven’t been offered anything. We were asked to pick three different locations—Castle Square, Perronet House, Elephant One—they haven’t offered me none of them. They haven’t told me [why], they just said we haven’t got any affordable unit for you guys. At the beginning they promised us, and then we suffer for the past three years, they closed the subway (underground walkway) and the business going down by about 80%. Two years before they came with an application, saying that we going to definitely relocate you 100%. Now we have one and a half months left to leave the market, and we can’t get any help from Tree Shepherd, or from Delancey. Every time we talk to the they say ‘sorry we haven’t got anything for you guys’, so we can’t do nothing. I believe we are entitled to a place in this area, cos they are making millions from this project, why can’t they help these traders? These traders have families they are trying to look after. By kicking them out, they are destroying their family life […] I really hope they can think about these traders and help to move them to a place nearby the area, where they have their customers […] they say you can’t stay in the area because this area, like Central London, is going to be very expensive. So where should we go? We don’t know.”

Our campaign…

Our campaign is to get Nassim, Shapoor, Edmund, Mohammed, Mohummad, Mohammed and their fellow traders new premises or suitable compensation for the loss of their businesses. The power to do this lies with Southwark Council, Delancey and University of the Arts London (UAL), but time is running out fast – the centre is due to close on 24 September.

You can help us by sending a Twitter message to the Southwark Councillors responsible for this fiasco:

@peterjohn6 (Council Leader)
@rebeccalury (Deputy Leader, Ward Cllr and Cabinet member for Equalites and Communities)
@MerrilDarren (Ward Cllr and Chair of the traders panel that was supposed to support traders)
@cllrmseaton (Ward Cllr and Chair of the Planning Committee)
@JohnsonSitu (Cabinet member for Regeneration)
@Leo_Pollak (Cabinet member for Social Regeneration)
@steviecryan (Cabinet member for Jobs, Business and Innovation)
@coyleneil (Local MP and Elephant & Castle resident)

You can find more infomation about the displaced traders can be found here.
Read in browser »

Recent Articles:

Campaigners demand that UAL withdraws from shopping centre development.
Aylesbury estate regeneration to have new council homes
Old Kent Rd scheme faces loss of affordable housing
The harsh reality of relocation for shopping centre traders

Couch to 5k

Posted by tgntra

Hi,

I hope all is well,

I’m contacting you because of a campaign to increase levels of physical activity in Southwark which I feel you might find interesting.

London Sport are leading on a Sport England funded campaign to address the impact of covid-19 on physical activity levels for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and lower socio-economic groups (LSEG). The campaign will focus on promoting the One You Couch to 5k app, using targeted Facebook and Instagram ads from the Get Active channel and through supporting partners to develop locally tailored promotion and offers. The paid advertising campaign is running adverts on Facebook and Instagram across London in areas with high % of the population from BAME audiences. The paid campaign will drive people to a Couch to 5K landing page or direct to the app store to directly download the app.

We are keen to support this campaign by working with partners to identify opportunities to use this campaign to support their efforts to increase physical activity levels for BAME/LSEG residents.

In particular where groups or organisations can use the campaign assets to promote the Couch to 5k running app to their audiences, or examples where you can set up local support for people who are starting Couch to 5k (Facebook groups, local events (as allowed by restrictions), etc.).

London Sport have created a toolkit to support local partners to activate the campaign in their area. It contains details about the campaign and audience, images and videos for partners to use and a template press release.

Download the campaign toolkit here.

If you are interested in helping promote this campaign, please use the toolkit and get in touch to see how we promote this to as many people as possible.

Have a good weekend

Luke Staples – Preston

Sport and Physical Activity Development Coordinator
Environment and Leisure
Parks and Leisure Service

Southwark Council

160 Tooley Street
London, SE1 5LX
Mobile: 07936333035; Phone: 020 7525 2687
Contact me on Linkedin

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/leisure-and-sport

Survey closing today: Southwark Council wants to hear from our Black, Asian and minority ethnic residents

Posted by tgntra

Southwark Stands Together

Dear resident,

We have had a good response to our Southwark Stands Together survey, but want to hear the experiences of as many Black, Asian and minority ethnic residents as possible.

Please take a few minutes to tell us about your experiences of racism, inequality and injustice, so you can help shape our plans for a fairer and more equal borough.

You can also find out why football legend Rio Ferdinand is supporting our campaign.

The survey closes at the end of today so please act now!

Thank you

www.southwark.gov.uk

Race to Health – Free Southwark Physical Activity initiative to keep families active over the summer

Posted by tgntra

Hi,

This week we are launching our summer Race to health challenge in partnership with Southwark Libraries as a way of keeping families active during the summer. We would really appreciate if this could be circulated to all groups and cascaded to local families.

Race to Health at home: The grizzly bear who lost his GRRRRR!

3August – 30 August

What is Race to Health?

Race to Health is an award winning online physical activity challenge that helps children and their families to be more physically active at home as part of a team – in this case a library team. Each participant will pick a Southwark library that they will compete for to try and become part of the Southwark Race To Health Champions!

Please click here for more information and instructions on how to register, or alternatively keep reading for more details.

Please adhere to current social distancing guidelines and government advice

How it works

The game theme is following Fred’s journey from the classic book, The grizzly bear who lost his GRRRRR! (by Rob Bidduloph). Each minute of physical activity completed by children and their families will be converted into miles and will contribute to their chosen library teams total. This helps Fred to move around a game map visiting some cool places and making new friends! The wining library will be the one with the highest total active minutes completed and will win receive £250 decathlon vouchers.

Children and their families need to log their physical activity minutes on our fun interactive web site which provides tips on how to increase your daily physical activity. Whilst on the website children will be able to track their own activity progress, and compare this to other members of the same library team. Children and families will also be able to customise their own page, collecting medals and points.

Once completed, children will be able to download their own personalised participation certificate and has a digital trophy appear in their trophy cabinet!

How can I take part?

Please email sports@southwark.gov.uk with the below information (copy and paste the table):

It may take up to 24hrs to receive your login pack

Full name of parent/carer to set up login:

Gender:

Preferred email to receive game communications

Chosen Southwark Library to represent:

Family information	Number of males	Number of females
Adults (aged 18yrs+)
Youth (aged 12-17yrs)
Children (aged 0-11yrs)
Registered with a disability or other sensory impairment

For any further information please email sports@southwark.gov.uk

Repairs Roadmap TRA Update

Posted by tgntra

Dear TRA chairs,

Following on from the email below we have followed the roadmap and we will be restarting taking routine repairs from Monday 3 August.

We have changed the online form for the short term, the new form doesn’t require a username or password to raise a repair which will help us during the coming weeks in logging the number of repairs we are likely to receive.

The link is below and we are happy for TRA chairs to report repairs from today which will help us trial the system before the full rollout on Monday. From Monday the form will be linked from the repairs section of the Southwark website.

As always your feedback is welcome. Queries relating to this please send to me directly and a reminder that you can call the priority TRA call centre line on 020 7525 0596 during office hours for day to day queries.

Kind Regards,

Marc

Link:

https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/showform.asp?fm_fid=1985

On 9 Jul 2020, at 13:35:

SENT ON BEHALF OF DAVE HODGSON, DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT

Dear TRA chairs,

This has been a challenging few months for our community. As you will know one of the decisions the council had to take early on was to suspend all non-urgent repairs in response to the COVID-19 lockdown.

This suspension is still in place, but we are now planning how to resume this work, and to catch up on repairs we have not been able to do, as soon as restrictions have been sufficiently eased and it is safe to do so. While most council staff have been able to continue to their work from home, repairs operatives work out of Frensham Street depot. Like all our buildings, we need to ensure that the depot is safe for increasing numbers of staff to access welfare facilities and stores etc whilst exercising social distancing and good hygiene.

If there is an emergency repair issue residents should phone the contact centre as normal by calling 0800 952 4444 or 020 7525 2600, this services continues to be open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Any issues can be escalated to managers both in and out of hours

Whilst we work hard to make sure all repairs are completed first time, it is not always possible. Residents should be encouraged initially to escalate any issues themselves, either online using their MySouthwark account, or by calling the contact centre.

We still have the TRA priority line in place at the call centre, which you can access as TRA representatives by calling 020 7525 0596 during office hours.

Lastly, I would like to refer you to the following Roadmap for consideration and feedback that has been prepared by repairs team as an indication of the journey needed to return us to a service that resembles the pre COVID-19 position.

We are also looking at having meetings where we can discuss further our reopening and any further questions you have. We will communicate these out separately.

Repairs Roadmap:

Week one – 6 July 2020

We will be starting roofing works we currently have in the system alongside communal works that are external to our blocks and buildings in the south of the borough. This will include repairs such as drainage, bollard and paving repairs and communal doors.

We will be restarting urgent orders with our disrepair team.

We will undertake a communal inspection of the external parts of all of our estates in the south of the borough and raise any repairs needed. We are phasing these inspections for half of the borough to ensure that our contractors can undertake the works needed as quickly as possible and we can continue to track these repairs with you as we have done previously

We will inspect all playgrounds on estates to ensure that they are safe to use when we reopen them

Week two – 13 July 2020

We will be restarting our leaks from above follow on works where residents are still experiencing a leak, for example resealing bathrooms, retiling or fitting shower curtains

We will be restarting communal works that are external to our blocks and buildings in the north of the borough.

We will restart works within residents homes that we already have logged in the system. Residents will receive a call to book an appointment with them. We anticipate that it will take a number of weeks to work through these repairs.

Week three – 20 July 2020

We will restart communal repair works already logged for within our blocks and buildings in the south of the borough that have been reported directly and as part of our estate inspections

We will undertake a communal inspection of the external parts of all of our estates in the north of the borough

We will review works we have logged to windows and doors within residents homes to see if a phased start can be safely initiated

We will restart our adaptations works to council and private properties

We will restart all follow on repairs following a leak from above, including plastering and painting

Week four – 27 July 2020

For this date we will restart further works which aren’t urgent as part of disrepair claims

We will restart communal repair works already logged for within our blocks and buildings in the north of the borough

We have worked with colleagues in customer experience to put in place a new online reporting system for repairs which makes the process easier for both the resident and the council. From this week we will be trialling a soft launch of the online reporting system without widespread publicity. We will send the link to this out to you during this week for your help in trialling this system with us

Week five – 3 August 2020

We will start taking routine repairs again from this week

We will undertake communal inspections to blocks and buildings across the borough and repairs will be raised as required

We need to ensure that the service isn’t overwhelmed and that we can undertake those repairs we already know about first and continue to respond to emergencies when residents need us which is why we won’t hesitate to pull back or change the plan as we move through the weeks.

Kind Regards,

Dave

Dave Hodgson

Director of Asset Management

Housing and Modernisation

Office Address:
Southwark Council
Housing and Modernisation

160 Tooley Street

2^nd Floor, Hub 5

London SE1 2QH

Postal Address:

PO Box 64529

Southwark Council

2^nd Floor, Hub 5

London SE1P 5LX

Help us keep Southwark safe, gyms reopen, and family fun this summer

Posted by tgntra

Dear resident

I hope you are enjoying the sunny weather this week, and are continuing to stay safe as more of our favourite places reopen. It’s really important that we all continue to follow advice on how to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, and a new Keep London Safe campaign has been launched this week to make sure everyone understands how to stay safe and what to do if you have symptoms. The message is simple: if you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested.

The council has solid plans in place to work with all our communities to help prevent an outbreak, and we need all our residents and businesses to help with this. None of us wants to go back into lockdown, as has happened in other parts of the country, so please continue to:

wash your hands regularly
keep a safe distance from others
wear face coverings in enclosed spaces if you can

And please help spread the word about test and trace – you can find more information below.

Although lockdown encouraged many of us to get outside for our daily exercise, we know that not everyone was able to be as active as they would like. The government has launched a new campaign to help us lose weight if we need to, not least because scientists have found there is a link between obesity and vulnerability to COVID-19. To help residents get active I’m really pleased that our gyms will be reopening this weekend, and we are working hard to get our swimming pools safely reopened later in August. And as ever, there are lots of other fun things for Southwark children and families to do over the summer holidays – find out more below.

Have a lovely weekend, and for those who are celebrating Eid al-Adha, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you Eid Mubarak.

Cllr Peter John

Keep London Safe

This week a London-wide campaign to raise awareness of the COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has been launched.

Keep London Safe is a joint campaign between London Councils, the 32 London boroughs including Southwark, and other partners to raise awareness of how COVID-19 contact tracing works and how and when people should apply for a test.

If you or anyone you know is showing symptoms (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) you should get tested immediately, call 119 or visit nhs.uk/coronavirus.

If NHS test and trace gets in touch to say you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you must follow their instructions and stay at home for 14 days.

Remember your face covering

Face coverings are now compulsory on all public transport and in shops. Remember some people are exempt from wearing face coverings for health reasons, but if you can wear one, please don’t leave home without it. You can find out more about when to wear a face covering and how to make one, on the Government’s website.

Libraries phased reopening

We are carefully reopening our library services across the borough, starting with Nunhead and Canada Water last week.

While our online library events have been hugely popular, helping many of you through the lockdown, we are happy to be inviting people back, in person.

Safety for all remains a priority, so we have introduced a number of new measures and ask that you please order books ahead of your visit, observe social distancing guidelines and follow any advice offered by signs and staff in our libraries.

New Channel 4 programme ‘Council House Britain’ goes behind the scenes in Southwark

This autumn, a documentary looking at housing in Southwark will be broadcast on Channel 4. The six part series follows Southwark Council officers, and the tenants and leaseholders they work with, in a fly on the wall documentary by the makers of 24 hours in A&E. Officers from housing and pest control feature heavily in the series, all touching on the challenges of helping to manage 55,000 properties in inner London, following years of austerity. Many Southwark tenants and leaseholders also feature, and tell their personal stories about their lives in Southwark, with real passion, humour and emotion.

Think internships

Being an intern is a great way to start your career. The council offers paid internships for residents aged 16 to 24 years old. Roles last between 6 and 12 weeks and are paid at the London Living Wage (currently £10.75 per hour). You’ll be joining one of London’s top employers and will be a part of one of the most forward-thinking councils in the country. Applications for the current roles close on 16 August 2020.

Apply to the EU settlement scheme

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

Food and fun for children this summer

We’ve joined forces with Lambeth Council and Kitchen Social to host an exciting summer programme of food and activities across our communities for 4 to 19-year-olds. Get the online brochure, find our more and sign up.

Online activities for children and young people

Our summer activities have gone virtual this year. Why not explore the exciting array of online activities this summer for young people aged 11 to 19 (and up to 25 with SEN) which are running until Friday 28 August.

Join in the Southwark Summer Race To Health family challenge

A fun, four week online challenge where children and adults join a virtual local library team and try to complete 60 minutes of exercise every day to help your library win the race and win (virtual) medals for yourself. Please click here for more information and instructions on how to register.

Covid-19 related resources for parents

If you’re a parent or carer get advice on talking with children about COVID-19, healthy eating, managing emotions, behaviour and conflict, and the benefit of setting routines for your family during COVID-19.

Mental wellbeing advice for young people

Young people aged 13–25 can get free and confidential mental wellbeing advice and support from a new service called The Nest. Support is available online and on the phone.

Make sure you are registered to vote

The annual canvass has started and Southwark residents are being reminded not to lose their voice on decisions that affect them by making sure their electoral registration details are up to date.

The annual canvass ensures that the electoral register is kept up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so. They would then be able take part in any future elections. Simply fill out the forms that are being delivered to every household in the borough – or go online to complete them. You can also apply for a postal vote just in case you can’t make it to your local polling station on voting day.

www.southwark.gov.uk

Race to Health – Free Southwark Physical Activity initiative to keep families active over the summer

Posted by tgntra

Hi,

Race to Health at home: The grizzly bear who lost his GRRRRR!

3August – 30 August

What is Race to Health?

Please click here for more information and instructions on how to register, or alternatively keep reading for more details.

Please adhere to current social distancing guidelines and government advice.

How it works

Once completed, children will be able to download their own personalised participation certificate and has a digital trophy appear in their trophy cabinet!

How can I take part?

Please email sports@southwark.gov.uk with the below information (copy and paste the table):

It may take up to 24hrs to receive your login pack

Full name of parent/carer to set up login:

Gender:

Preferred email to receive game communications

Chosen Southwark Library to represent:

Family information	Number of males	Number of females
Adults (aged 18yrs+)
Youth (aged 12-17yrs)
Children (aged 0-11yrs)
Registered with a disability or other sensory impairment

R2H flier.docx v2
For any further information please email sports@southwark.gov.uk

Support the shopping centre traders!

Posted by tgntra

Dear Friend

Just a quick email saying that tomorrow (Friday 24 July) Latin Elephant are launching a social media campaign around #MyElephantMasks, as they become compulsory.

Latin Elephant have produced 100 of their own masks and will be distributing them at the Shopping Centre, 11am, to send a positive message from a strong united community, fighting Covid and redevelopment.

All are welcome to join us!

Also, please help us and promote using Twitter hashtags; keep your eye out for these hashtags from tomorrow:

#MyElephantMasks
#BuyLocal
#BuyElephant

Regards
Jerry

Safeguarding Priorities Consultation

Posted by tgntra

Good morning, please see below information on two London Borough of Southwark consultations which are currently live.

Phase One Safeguarding Priorities Consultation:

The aim of the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership and Southwark Safeguarding Adults Board is to make sure that people in Southwark are kept safe from harm and abuse.

Each year we assess our priorities and take a look at whether there are new areas we need to concentrate on. This consultation is to help us understand the safeguarding priorities for Southwark. The consultations for children and adults will then be carefully considered together.

It is very important to make sure that we give the people who live and work in Southwark the opportunity to feed in, share ideas and tell us what is important to them. This will shape how we safeguard people in Southwark in the best way.

We have carefully looked at areas that have been previously focused on in Southwark, the areas that give us concern, the themes that we know about from local and national work, the areas that work well and most importantly the areas that you may want to focus on for the next 18 months.

Next steps:

We have developed two surveys, one for children and one for adults, which will take about 5 minutes of your time. We really value your contribution and look forward to listening to you and taking forward the priorities that you tell us about. We will work together to decide what we will do next and how we will know if it is making a difference. This does not mean that the other areas are not important and we will continue to focus on, learn from and improve outcomes where they are indicated.

Thank you for your time and contribution.

Judy Wills

Empowering Communities Programme Officer

North West Area (Borough & Bankside, Chaucer, London Bridge & West Bermondsey and St George’s)

Communities Division| Housing & Modernisation Department

160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH

Tel: 020 7525 2767 | Mobile: 07591 989 026

Email: judy.wills@Southwark.gov.uk

Work days: Monday, Tuesday &Wednesday (am)

Complete Southwark Council’s survey about racial inequality and injustice

Posted by tgntra

Dear resident,

Work on our Southwark Stands Together programme, to tackle racial inequality and injustice, is continuing. I want to thank everyone who has already participated in this work, shared powerful stories and offered important ideas about how we address inequalities together.We are currently focusing on a listening exercise with our communities which will help us to:

understand what needs to change
identify solutions to address entrenched, persistent racism and injustice
understand how Southwark can stand together to deliver a fairer and more equal society

There are a number of ways you can currently take part in the listening exercise:

We will also be consulting in non-digital ways over the coming weeks and will share more details of this soon.

We hope people are starting to enjoy the relaxation of some of the COVID-19 restrictions, and are supporting our many great shops, pubs and restaurants as they reopen. Please remember to follow health and social distancing advice and also be considerate of people living nearby.

Best wishes

Cllr Peter John

Get tested if you have coronavirus symptoms

Get a test as soon as possible if you have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new persistent cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste). A testing centre will be at Belair Park on 5 and 6 July. If you have symptoms you must also must self-isolate, as should members of your household and anyone in your support bubble.

Make your own face covering

Face coverings are now compulsory on all public transport and will become compulsory in shops later this month. Find out how to make your own face covering at home and remember the key is to cover both the mouth and nose.Click to edit this placeholder text.

Eat Out to Help Out – registration open

Restaurants and other establishments serving food can now register for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Businesses participating in the scheme can download promotional material.

Apply to the EU settlement scheme

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

Food and fun for children this summer!

We’ve joined forces with Lambeth Council and Kitchen Social to host an exciting summer programme of food and activities across our communities for 4–19-year-olds. Get the online brochure, find our more and sign up.

Online activities for children this summer

The Southwark Youth Service is delivering a host of online activities this summer for young people aged 11 to 19 (and up to 25 with SEN) from Monday 27 July to Friday 28 August.

Mental wellbeing advice for young people

Young people aged 13–25 can get free and confidential mental wellbeing advice and support from a new service called The Nest. Support is available online and on the phone.

COVID-19-related resources for parents

Watch out for rogue traders

Rogue traders are active in Southwark. Don’t be a scam victim – just say no to any doorstep traders who call on you.

Watch Twelfth Night, free of charge

Southwark Playhouse’s new streaming service means you can watch shows and plays, free of charge, until the theatre can open its doors again. Performances currently include Shakespeare’s Twelfth night.

Stream films, free of charge

Library members can stream classic cinema, world cinema, indie film and top documentaries with our new free film streaming service. If you’re not a library member you can become a library member now.

Get involved in decisions about housing and estates

We have made it easier for more people who live in council homes to get involved in decisions about council housing. These changes are part of our commitment to make homes and estates in Southwark great places to live.

Join our online resident panel. This gives you the opportunity to get involved in decisions that affect you and where you live, even if you can’t come to meetings.