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

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

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.

Lambeth and Southwark’s ‘Summer of Food and Fun’

Posted by tgntra

DBG0177-Kitchen-Social-Design-AW-Digital-Version (1)

Update on lockdown changes in Southwark

Posted by tgntra

Dear resident,

This weekend sees the start of the next phase of lockdown changes. Updates below detail what is changing in Southwark and how you can play your part in keeping yourself and others safe. However, the virus hasn’t gone away. Please stay at home when you can and always observe social distancing. If you go somewhere and it’s crowded, go home.Southwark Stands Together update

Previously, I shared with you our plans to tackle injustice and racial inequality experienced by Black and Minority Ethnic communities. Our Southwark Stands Together initiative, which is being led Cllr Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, has now started.

As part of the work we are carrying out a listening exercise with communities across the borough. We want to hear from everyone and particularly residents from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. Register your interest in joining one of our online listening events – we still have some places left and we will accommodate as many people as we can.

Best wishes

Cllr Peter John

Get tested if you have coronavirus symptoms

Update on lockdown changes

Update on playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms

In line with government guidance we are beginning to open our playgrounds and sports courts from 4 July with outdoor gyms to follow next week. Please use these facilities responsibly – keep your distance from others and wash your hands before and after use. If they are crowded please come back another time.

Update on shops, cafes and pubs

We are working with businesses to help them reopen safely, in line with government guidance. Businesses will be working hard to make things safe for customers, please help them and others by:

Keeping your distance from other customers
Respecting local residents
Using the toilets provided

Temporary closure of Rye Lane in Peckham

From 6 July we will temporarily close Rye Lane to all vehicle traffic. The closure will help people to maintain social distancing and will help to ensure the safety of shoppers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Please tell us if you have an idea to make social distancing and safe travel easier.

Make your own face covering

Face coverings are now compulsory on all public transport and should be considered in busy shops and enclosed public spaces. Find out how to make your own face covering at home and remember the key is to cover both the mouth and nose.

Are you worried about domestic abuse?

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, you can leave home to seek help or support. Nationally, there is advice and support available but you should call 999 if you are in immediate danger. Locally, the Solace Advocacy and Support Service is also available to women and men in Southwark aged 16 or over.

Give your views on the climate emergency

Whether you live, work or visit our borough we want your views ideas about how we tackle the climate emergency together.

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.

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.

Say thank you to the NHS

We’re calling on Southwark to say #ThankYouTogether at 5pm on Sunday 5 July in a celebration to mark the NHS 72nd birthday.

Watch theatre performances, 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 Wasted, a rock musical about the Brontë sisters.

Thank you for using our parks responsibly

We’re doing our best to keep Southwark’s parks and open spaces clean and safe. Help us by following a few simple rules that will make them places everyone can enjoy this summer:

Take your litter home
Pay attention to signs
Use toilets provided
No BBQs
Remember social distancing

www.southwark.gov.uk

Shops and places of worship to reopen, plus an update on our response to Black Lives Matter

Posted by tgntra

Dear resident,

As we head into another sunny weekend, with more easing of the lockdown measures coming next week, I want to thank you all for your continued commitment to keeping Southwark safe. It’s great news that many of our much-loved local businesses will be reopening on Monday, and that churches, mosques and other places of worship will be open for private prayer next week too. I know what a positive difference this will make to many of you. However, please remember that we will only keep ourselves and our families safe if we continue to observe social distancing. The 2m rule remains in place across our borough to keep us safe.

I promised you last week that I would share with you the details of our plans to respond to the killing of George Floyd and the injustice and racism experienced by our BAME communities. I have asked Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, to lead our work in this area under the name ‘Southwark stands together’, which today we can announce will include:

An anti-racist audit of the borough to identify statues and street names that do not reflect our borough’s diversity, especially anything with links to slavery or our country’s colonial past, and to identify positive opportunities for the celebration of more diverse figures
A listening exercise with communities across the borough, partner organisations, and our staff, to hear their concerns, and identify solutions to address entrenched and persistent racism and injustice
A call to all businesses and organisations in the borough to work with us to implement these solutions, taking positive action to ensure equality of opportunity

Cllr Situ will report back on progress towards the end of the summer, but in the meantime we will soon be sharing details with you of how you can get involved in this important work, as we want to ensure it is driven and informed by our communities.

Have a lovely weekend,

Cllr Peter John

Third anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy

This Sunday, 14 June, marks the third anniversary of the Grenfell fire in which 72 people tragically lost their lives. On Sunday our Tooley Street and Queens Road offices will be lit #GreenforGrenfell to remember all those who died. We will be thinking of them, their families, loved ones and all of the people whose lives were changed forever by the tragedy, on this sad day.

Face coverings required on public transport

From Monday it will be mandatory for anyone travelling on public transport to wear a face covering. There is more information available on the TfL website.

Shops and places of worship

A number of shops and businesses will be opening across the borough from Monday 15 June. They will have to meet the government’s Covid-19 social distancing guidelines to protect their workers and the public. In addition, customers are asked to be vigilant, stay away from others and wear a face covering if in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible.

On Monday 15 June, places of worship are also permitted to allow people to attend for individual prayer only, rather than services, so that people can socially distance.

Businesses that offer personal services, such as hairdressers and nail bars, will remain closed, in line with current government guidelines, until 4 July. This also applies to the hospitality industry, meaning that pubs, cafes and restaurants are still restricted to takeaway or delivery services only.

Businesses can find further guidance on reopening safely, and posters to help manage social distancing, on our website.

New £3.4 million grant scheme for small businesses in Southwark

The council has launched a new support scheme for local small businesses and market traders that did not qualify for the Government’s Small Business Grant, the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant, or were unsuccessful in applying for the Southwark Business Hardship Fund in April. The new £3.4 million fund will be allocated on a rolling basis until the fund is exhausted. Demand for grants is expected to be high so businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more details and to apply: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/discretionarygrantsfund

Climate emergency – your thoughts?

In March 2019, Southwark declared a Climate Change Emergency. This declaration reinforced our commitment to combat carbon emissions and do all we can to tackle rising global temperatures. We have been working to reduce our emissions for some time, cutting them by 37 per cent since 2010. Moving forward we want to join forces with everybody in the borough to try to make Southwark carbon neutral by 2030.Please tell us how you think we can work towards a carbon neutral 2030, together.

www.southwark.gov.uk

COVID-19 updates, tackling the climate emergency and more

Posted by tgntra

Dear resident,

Another sunny weekend awaits but our message stays the same – please stay at home as much as possible to stop the virus spreading.

I want to thank everyone, including council staff and members of the public, who have been working so hard to keep our parks and open spaces clean and safe. We can all do our bit to help by using our parks responsibly. Please keep your distance from others, don’t have barbecues and take your rubbish home with you. Let’s work together to look after our parks, so we can all enjoy them.

It’s hard to believe that three years have passed since the dreadful terror attacks in London Bridge and Borough in which eight people were murdered and dozens more injured. On 3^rd June we will remember those lives lost, and all those harmed on that terrible night, with a service hosted by Southwark Cathedral. Given the current lockdown restrictions the memorial service will be held virtually on Southwark Cathedral’s website. Whether or not you are able to join the service, I know you will join me in remembering those lost on that sunny evening three years ago, and keep their friends and families firmly in your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Cllr Peter John

Give us your views on the climate emergency

Whether you live, work or visit our borough we want your ideas about how we tackle the climate emergency together.

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.

Is your child due a routine immunisation?

Routine immunisations for children and expectant mums are continuing as usual. Contact your GP if you think you or your child may be due a routine vaccine. Practices have put measures in place to ensure you can be seen safely (YouTube video).

Join in our Festival of Words until 12 June

This year’s Festival of Words will for the first time be delivered online featuring local writers, storytellers and literary artists showcasing their work to stimulate your imagination and creativity. Audiences of all ages will be engaged and inspired – there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Check out the full programme.

You can also look at all the activities in our stay-at-home library of activities to keep you busy at home.

Join a business start-up webinar

Is COVID-19 impacting your tech business? Do you have an idea for a startup and need guidance on getting in front of the right customer? Join an online webinar on 3 June to learn how to attract customers and grow your company.

Submissions closing soon: £6m for your community projects

We’ve received almost 300 proposals for community projects to be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The Sunday 31 May deadline is fast approaching. Visit our CIL website and share your idea for a project in your area that could by supported by this £6m fund.

Stream films free of charge

Our elibrary service offers film streaming, ebooks, audiobooks and more free of charge. You will need your library card number to use the service, or you can become a library member now.

Donate your old smartphone to help local people

We are supporting Community Calling, a partnership between O2 and environment charity Hubbub, which asks people to donate their old and unused phones so they can be passed on to help other people stay digitally connected.

Test and trace information

Read more about the NHS test and tracing programme which launched yesterday. If you have coronavirus symptoms you can ask to be tested, following the process set out on the NHS website.

Are you worried about domestic abuse?

Suggest ideas to make social distancing easier

We’re committed to quickly rolling out schemes to make travel safer during the COVID-19 crisis. Help us identify locations where we can make changes to help you get about safely

www.southwark.gov.uk

Letter to Residents from Minister of State for Housing

Posted by tgntra

Dear TRA Chair,

Please see the below and attached Covid-19 Letter to Social Housing Residents links to an important communication concerning Coronavirus from the Minister of State for Housing, the Right Honourable Christopher Pincher, MP:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/885686/Covid19_Letter_to_social_housing_residents.pdf

Kind regards,

George Changua

Tenant & Homeowner Support Officer

Southwark Council || Communities Division || Housing & Modernisation

160 Tooley Street || 5^th Floor || Hub 3 || SE1 2QH

T: 0207 525 3326 || E: george.changua@southwark.gov.uk || Website: www.southwark.gov.uk

www.southwark.gov.uk/mysouthwark For council services at your fingertips, register online.