Hello, I am happy to announce that from Monday 3rd August we will
start delivering some onsite activities from Sonali Gardens and Wapping
Children’s Centre.
These include our Coffee mornings on Monday and Wednesdays, Darts
group and our new Walk and Talk Group on Tuesdays!

As a result of COVID19, we have had to introduce an activity booking
system to ensure that we are following government and health
guidelines. We are taking this and several other measures to make sure
that we protect your health and safety and prevent the spread of the
virus.

We need your cooperation and support to help make the new booking
system run smoothly.To book an activity call the Linkage Plus office or
Outreach Workers to book your place.
Once you have booked you will be given an activity information briefing
sheet with start times, what to do when you arrive at the centre and so
on.

If you are unsure about what to do call the office and we will go
through it with you. We can’t wait to see you all back enjoying activity
sessions.
I would like to thank all of you who completed and returned the Health
& Wellbeing questionnaire.
Your feedback is very important and helps us deliver a better service. So
please keep telling us what you think!
Lastly, I am excited to share with you all that we have set up some social
media platforms to promote and share our work! Please follow and share
our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages with friends, neighbours and
partners.

Frances Shank,

LinkAge Plus Coordinator

For more information about these activates, activates run Mind Tower Hamlets and Newham, RIBA have launched self-directed adult resources, and ELOP LGBT Forum please download their newsletter:

The staff at Ideas Stores have been working hard to ensure there is safe social distancing and good hygiene in place to keep our visitors and staff safe. A reduced number of services will initially start to reopen at Idea Stores Chrisp Street and Whitechapel, as they continue to assess all sites.

Visitors will need to pre-book timeslots for choosing books or using computers, and we’re working towards safe access for some drop-in visits too.

Opening hours

Idea Store Chrisp Street and Idea Store Whitechapel only:

• Monday to Friday: 2pm to 7pm
• Saturday and Sunday: Midday to 4pm

All other Idea Stores and Libraries remain closed at the moment. We are working behind the scenes to re-open as soon as it safely possible to do so.

Your Visit

• If you are visiting the library you can use it for up to 15 minutes
• If you are using a computer you can have access to it for 45 minutes

To book a session, click the button below:

Details of their Terms of Entry can be found in the document below. The asked you to read it before your visit.

Neighbours in Poplar (a registered charity 299843) which has been working in Tower Hamlets for the past 50 years, they would like your support in requesting that Mayor John Biggs restores the meals on wheels service to older and vulnerable people across the Borough.

NIP has been delivering cooked meals to isolated people since the end of March and their research has shown that this service is a lifeline for people’s mental, emotional and physical health . On Sunday 26th July they will be delivering our 5000th meal. The need for a fresh, hot cooked meal is not a covid problem, the pandemic has merely made more people aware of the loneliness suffered by many of our elders. A friendly face delivering a culturally sensitive meal daily, is surely not too much to ask for!

To sign the petition please click the button below.

From Friday 24th July face covering will be required by law in shops , and they are already mandatory on public transport. Failure to wear a covering can result in fine of up to £100.

The Government hasn’t yet published specific exemption rules with regards to shops but has set out ones for public transport these include the following people and circumstances:

• Children under 11
• if you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
• if you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
• if you are travelling to avoid injury or escape the risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
• if you need to remove it during your journey to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
• if you need to eat, drink, or take medication you can remove your face covering
• if you are asked to remove your face covering by a police officer or other official, for example to check your railcard

There is currently no ‘official’ form or process to prove your exemption. Transport for London have produced a flyer that you can download and print out, to show people. Its use seem to be done on trust and will probably be accepted in shops as well as public transport. You can find it by looking at the Transport for London website or click the button below to download. If you do not have a printer or a smartphone, you can contact Transport for London who will print and post a card to you. Call 0343 222 1234.

The Bow consultation is part of the Liveable Streets initiative which aims to improve the areas for all Tower Hamlets residents by making changes to the street infrastructure. Seven main schemes have been developed to improve walking and cycling, create better public spaces, discourage through-traffic and improve air quality. They are proposing traffic changes and calming measures to make local streets safer for everyone. Pedestrian improvements, better street lighting, tree planting and cycling infrastructure are also considered.

They want to make sure the whole community has the opportunity to contribute their opinion on the proposals to ensure the outcome is suitable for as many members of the community as possible.

One of there key objectives is to improve accessibility for all, and your feedback is important to us. The Bow Liveable Streets public consultation period runs until Wednesday 29 July 2020 and details are available online, please click the button below: