1. HARINGEY & LONDON RESPONSE UPDATE
1.1 Haringey Council to publish weekly COVID-19 figures
In our last issue we provided Haringey's response dismissing media reports that Haringey was suffering a second spike in COVID-19 cases.
In order to keep the community and local services updated with the number of coronavirus cases in the borough, the council will publish a COVID-19 Weekly Briefing on the website – view the first one here.
These briefings will sit beside the council’s Local Outbreak Management Plan, which outlines how the council will work with agencies and other parts of the public health system to prevent and manage local outbreaks of COVID-19. The plan also seeks to understand the wider impact of COVID-19 on local communities.
1.2 Free School Meals - Apply Now
If you believe your child or children may be eligible to receive Free School Meals, please register them for that provision in order to receive support from the Government’s COVID Summer Food Fund.
The Fund will enable eligible pupils to be supported over the summer holidays, with a £90 voucher distributed by their schools to carers/parents to cover the six-week period.
Where your school’s summer holiday lasts for seven full weeks – as opposed to six – you can increase the voucher amount by £15 per child to £105.
Participating supermarkets where your vouchers will be accepted are as follows: - Aldi
- Asda
- Company Shop Group
- Iceland, including The Food Warehouse Stores
- M&S
- McColl’s
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
- Waitrose
Families will need to present in store either: - A paper copy of the voucher
- The voucher on a smartphone or tablet
The vouchers do not have to be spent in full/one transaction, but must be spent on food.
For further information, visit the Gov.uk website.
1.3 Good mental health
As restrictions continue to ease, it is still important that we look after our mental wellbeing. It is important to stay connected to others, look after our bodies and keep our minds occupied.
Every Mind Matters has some useful tips to help improve your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out how to look after your mental health.
There is also “help to stay positive” and wellbeing guidance on Haringey's website.
1.4 Update on Lidos and Leisure Centres
From today, Park Road Lido is scheduled to reopen with the following measures: - Adult lane swimming only – no sunbathing. All swims pre-booked and paid for online.
- 60-minute sessions (50-minute swim)
- No changing facilities – visitors are asked to come “beach ready”
- Hot showers will be available (reduced number)
- Swimmers are advised not to queue until just before their allocated time
- Swimmers will be asked not to linger and to leave as soon as they have changed
Please ensure to follow social distancing guidance and be respectful of those around you.
Please visit the Park Road Pools and Fitness website for full details and to book.
Other centres and services will not be reopening just yet, but Fusion Leisure are working on plans for a phased reopening of their centres in Haringey. When they do reopen, there will be a number of temporary changes to the way they operate to ensure they are Covid-secure. We will share information as soon as it is available.
1.5 Update on Libraries
Libraries will not be reopening in full just yet as Haringey is considering how to safely resume the service, and it's estimated it will be some time before all facilities are restored to usual order. So far only Wood Green, St Ann's and Muswell Hill Libraries are open.
Wood Green Library reopened this week, 10am to 4pm, Monday – Saturday for the following services only: - Drop Boxes – users can return books in a designed ‘drop box’ situated just inside the library.
- Click and collect – collection of books that have been pre-ordered online or by phone
- Grab & Go – grab a self-selection of books by customers but with no provision to sit or stay to browse
Muswell Hill and St Ann’s Libraries both partially opened last week and will continue with the opening hours of 10.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday.
Both libraries will offer Drop Boxes, Click and Collect, Grab & Go as well as up to one hour of computer use. Please note that the number of computers available will be limited.
We will provide further updates as more library services reopen.
1.6 Update on Sports Courts
All council-run ball courts and skate parks in our green open spaces have now been reopened.
Facilities at Ducketts Common (ball courts – 12noon-10pm), Finsbury Park (ball courts and skate park – 12noon-8pm) and Lordship Rec (ball courts and skate park – 2pm-8pm) will all have supervised opening times.
You will still need to pre-book a slot online to play basketball (external link) or tennis (external link) in Finsbury Park.
Pre-booking online is also required if you wish to play tennis at Albert Road Recreation Ground (external link) or Bruce Castle Park (external link).
1.7 Update on playgrounds, outdoor gyms & paddling pools
Reopening of playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be phased between the 20th to the 31st of July, with 2mts distancing and hand sanitising in place.
Outdoor paddling pools remain closed for now, but we will update you further as soon as we know more of the reopening schedule
1.8 Holiday Fun in Haringey
Haringey Council have published their activity booklet for the Summer holidays. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of events are taking place in parks and open spaces.
Any late additions to the programme will be added to the council's What's On calendar.
To find out more about Holiday Fun in Haringey click here.
1.9 Warning for businesses to follow Covid-19 guidelines
A number of pubs and hairdressers/barbers have now been able to open their doors to the public and make the necessary changes to make their premises Covid-secure.
However, the council have reported that a minority of barbers still need to be advised on the requirements that need to be met including the use of PPE and protecting their customers.
It is crucial that we contain the spread of the coronavirus and avoid a second wave taking place that will force stricter lockdown measures to come back into place.
Council enforcement officers are out every day assessing businesses throughout the borough to ensure they are following the correct guidelines.
For all the information you need on the new guidelines and working safely please go to the government website.
1.10 Electric Vehicle Charging Points
With restrictions on public transport, many residents are considering alternative modes of transport such as walking and cycling. At the same time, many are considering changing their vehicles to electric vehicles, due to environmental concerns, but are worried about the ability to charge any future vehicle.
There are currently 47 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points across the borough, provided by several different operators.
This year the council is working to increase the number of points with additional 25 Lamp column charge points which will be operated by Char.gy Ltd and 12 Standard charging points operated by BP Chargemaster Ltd. They also plan to consult on a proposal for possible introduction of additional standard charging points managed by Blue Point London.
For the 12 Standard Charging points, the works for these have already started, and the council expects for these to go live by the end of July 2020. The locations are as follows: - Princes Avenue, N10 – 2 EV points
- Down Hills Park Road N17 - 4 EV points
- Ewart Grove,N22 - 2 EV points
- Henningham Road, N17 - 2 EV points
- Landrock Road, N8 - 2 EV points
In regards to the 25 Lamp Column charging points, the locations were finalised in February 2020 and were programmed to be installed by the end of March 2020, however due to the COVID restrictions the works were postponed. Now due to the safety measures which are being put/will be put in place for COVID, the council are reviewing the locations to make sure that they will not be affected by new measures, and we expect to get the updated locations confirmed shortly.
In addition to the above works, the council are also looking into other offers/contracts from EV charging point providers in the market and other funding streams for next year (2021/2022) programme to expand the network in the borough.
To view a map of all existing charging points in the borough click here, and to find out more about EV charging in Haringey, including how to suggest a location for a future charging point, please see this page.
Note that council resources are limited and they are only able to install certain amount of EVCPs in a year, giving priority to locations in the borough that do not benefit from having any EV charging points based on demand.
1.11 Haringey Book of Remembrance launched
To honour those we have lost during the coronavirus pandemic, a virtual book of remembrance has been launched in Haringey.
Family, friends and carers now have a special designated place to pay tribute to loved ones who were living in Haringey, with a photo and a short, written message. Please share your tributes to loved ones.
Learn more and visit the dedicated website to sign the book of remembrance to honor a loved one.
1.12 Tesco Bags of Help COVID-19 Communities Fund
Tesco Bags of Help has responded to the current COVID-19 crisis by setting up a new fund to support local communities. In order to respond quickly to the emergency they have created a streamlined application and payment process to make it easier to get funds out.
The programme will provide a single payment award of £500 to organisations who are supporting vulnerable groups, as part of their emergency response in supporting local communities.
Typically, the fund will support organisations that have experienced; - Increased demand – a holiday hunger club needs more resources to support children through the summer months or a food bank whose stocks are running low and needs an immediate donation to enable the food bank to restock.
- Disrupted services – a local charity setting up a delivery service to replace its monthly lunch club, or a charity needing to set up a telephone service to support beneficiaries.
- New services – a health focused charity having to set up a new online patient service requires new IT equipment or a mental health charity developing a new service.
Click here to find out more and to apply.
1.13 Local Food Banks still require urgent donations
Food banks continue to support residents across the borough and are seeing supplies running desperately low. If you are able to support them please consider doing so.
Muswell Hill Foodbank (The Trussell Trust) - If you need food
- The Muswell Hill Foodbank on Pembroke Road is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You will need to get a voucher from one of the Referral Agencies (Citizens Advice, Social Services, Job Centres, some schools and doctors surgeries and other local charities) before going to the foodbank. Strict social distancing is in place to ensure the safety of clients and volunteers.
- The foodbank urgently needs donations
The Holy Trinity Food Bank Stroud Green - Open every Sunday from 1.30pm – 3.30pm.
- Please drop off donations at the food bank between 1.30pm - 3.30pm on Sundays. Alternatively there are dedicated collection bins at:
- Sainsbury’s, 175-179 Stroud Green Road, N4 3PZ
- Londis, 9-11 Ferme Park Road, N4 4DS
If you would like to make a monetary donation please email: htfoodbank@gmail.com and for more information visit: http://www.holytrinityfoodbank.org.uk/
The Gospel Centre Food Bank corner of Raleigh Road / Wightman Road, N8 OLT - Open Tuesday 6.30-8.30pm or Sunday 11.30-1pm.
- Requires donations of non perishable food
- Supporting those in need, especially from N8, N4 and N22 – no referral required
Enquiries to gospelcfoodbank@gmail.com
Bounds Green Food Bank Shaftesbury Hall, Herbert Road, Bounds Green, N11 2QN - Open 2pm-4pm every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
- Accepting everyone that needs a foodbank (no voucher required)
- Food donations accepted in the two hours before opening
Enquiries to BoundsGreenMutualAid@gmail.com
Other Local Foodbanks
1.14 Volunteering opportunities for local residents
Our voluntary organisations are working under huge pressure and looking for more help from the community:
1.15 Telephone befriending service
Staying at home can be lonely and it can be difficult to connect socially. As the lockdown continues this become ever more difficult for some of our residents.
Haringey Reach and Connect offer free calls to people in Haringey who would like to receive regular weekly calls from a friendly and supportive volunteer. The calls last approximately 30 minutes, and take place on the same day, at the same time, each week.
They match older people and volunteers carefully, to ensure they have some common interests and friendships are reviewed regularly, to ensure that both parties find them enjoyable.
If you would be interested in becoming or having a telephone befriender, please contact Reach and Connect who are running a special expanded service to respond to COVID-19, using this link: https://reachandconnect.net/get-support/telephone-friendship |
