Lack of accessibility to Covid health information and services, including vaccine and test centres, has placed disabled people at a direct disadvantage of recovering equal healthcare. Real's Accessible Health for All project aims to ensure local disabled residents are actively involved in shaping the solutions to make health care accessible for all impairment types.

We want to hear about your experience during the pandemic in accessing health information and services. Did you find it accessible? How could they be improved for you? Real also want to work with you to create new, improved health messages and services for other people with your disability. This will help to keep people safe during the pandemic and save lives.

The Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Group is an engagement project which creates a dialogue between women in Tower Hamlets and reproductive health services. It gathers insights from local women, learning about what they need and want from women's health services. They are gathering insights via this survey and would be very grateful if you complete it and share it with local women. 

Deadline:10.00pm on Thursday 31 March

elop's relationship therapy recognises that each person has a unique personality, values and experiences that filter how they experience relationships. They aim to meet with you for a pre-counselling appointment to hear about the difficulties you are facing in your relationship with some brief life history from each person to help understand the interplay of these on the presenting issue.

The quality of our close relationships is significantly linked to our emotional wellbeing and overall happiness. Relationships can be wonderful when they are working well; but can be extremely painful and impact us negatively when they are not. Whether you are managing common difficulties, life challenges or breaches in trust, elop is here to support you.

elop counselling is low-cost, using a sling scale to confirm your contribution towards the cost of your service. To find out more, email counselling@elop.org. All sessions online using Zoom.

Improving knowledge, Boosting confidence and Promoting safer patient care. This is a training course programme for diabetes and it is free to attend (as funded by NEL Diabetes).

By attending, eligible staff (including care workers) will improve awareness and will drive early prevention of diabetes across Tower Hamlets. Each CDEP topic generates a CPD certificate and reflection document for revalidation and appraisal purposes as well as exciting CDEP rewards!

You Be You is an award winning social enterprise working towards the vision that no child leaves primary school believing their gender, race or class limits their potential. You Be You have done this through their school programme that they've co-designed with local teachers and their teacher training workshops, enabling teachers to become equality champions across the school and wider community. You Be You are equally passionate about creating a positive impact beyond the school gates, which is why they work with parents and families through their home activity kits called 'Be Me Bundles'. Each pupil also has activity kits ready to engage with at home alongside their caregivers. They cover themes such as mental health, careers and identity. The idea is for children and adults to connect and explore the world around them.

To find out more about the programme email Bilkis at bilkis@youbeyou.co.uk

Wednesday 9 March / 10.00am to 1.00pm / Online event

In 2021 LBTH joined Tower Hamlets to the national Connection Coalition that was started by the Jo Cox Foundation and other national partners as a response to the acute loneliness that resulted from the Coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing measures that had to be introduced to contain the virus. Now we want to follow on by launching the Tower Hamlets Connection Network that supports all the organisations in the borough to work together to share ideas, information and community assets to deliver a stronger local response to loneliness and isolation especially affects our most vulnerable people.

You are invited to join a conversation that reflects on the successes and challenges and how this experience could shape how we move forward together.

For Self-identified butch lesbians (or former butch lesbians) of all ages, ethnicities and class backgrounds for oral history interviews. Experiences of transmasculine and non-binary people who have previously identified as butch lesbians welcomed.

Contact amy.toothmurphy@rhul.ac.uk for more information or to participate.

ELOP are an exciting innovative LGBT+ mental health and wellbeing charity based in East London. ELOP was established around 1995 as a grass roots developed & community-led organisation with the aim to promote the mental health, wellbeing, empowerment & equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) communities. For 25 years ELOP has been providing information, advice, counselling & support services, plus other social and community activities & events to London’s LGBT+ communities. In addition to operating direct community frontline services ELOP also delivers second-tier work and provides information, training, consultancy & support to statutory & voluntary sector policy makers, managers, service providers & their staff teams.

ELOP runs one of the seven networks part of the Tower Hamlets Equalities Hub

Healthwatch tower Hamlets have been gathering your views on what makes your community healthy for nearly two years now. Your feedback has helped everyone involved in providing health and wellbeing support to understand:

• What local residents think is important to wellbeing during the pandemic such as access to safe open spaces and to good mental health support.
• Which groups of local residents are experiencing the greatest impact from the pandemic 
• How services have changed for the better or the worse

Healthwatch want to continue to provide this vital voice for local residents and although we know many are of you are getting consultation fatigue we are asking again if you can give some of your valuable time to complete this survey.

The Equalities Hub is key to the new direction for the Council’s equalities provision, providing a central strategic focus, responding to the community’s needs and issues. The Hub will be vital to bringing about a more coordinated approach to equalities in the borough. 

Tower Hamlets Equalities Hub is a partnership between Tower Hamlets CVS and Healthwatch Tower Hamlets and funded by Tower Hamlets Council.

The Hub integrates an intersectional approach and is run by seven networks, each one focusing on a equality branch:

• BAME Network
• Disabled People's Network
• Interfaith Forum
• LGBT+ Community Forum
• Older People's Reference Group
• Women's Network
• Youth Council

Wednesday 2 March / 10.30am to 12.00pm / Online Event

Join us to talk about what "being more digital" means for your organisation and your clients and how we can help you to achieve it.

According to the Charity Skills report 2021 "83% of charities have adapted their services, pivoting to remote service delivery, responding in an agile way and developing digital skills and capabilities as a result."

Considering this trend is here to stay, how is your organisation embracing the change? and how Tower Hamlets CVS can support you to better use digital to achieve the aims of your organisation?

Thursday 3 March @5pm

On 3rd March, BL Women in Healthcare society, BL Feminist Society, BLSA Women's Representative and the Vice Presidents of BLSA are working together to organise a vigil to commemorate a year since Sarah Everard's death. This will provide a moment of reflection and remembrance for all the victims of gender based violence. The plan is for it to be a quiet, contemplative event where attendees can light candles and pay respects to women who have been and are still victims of violence against women.

The walk will start from from Mile End station at approximately 5pm to the meet in front of the Garrod Building for 6pm where the vigil will take place. Members of the faculty, NHS trust and public are invited to attend and pay tribute to those who are and were victimised by violence against women. Candles may be available to light in front of the building but please feel free to bring your own too.

Thursday 3 March / 10.00am to 12.30pm

This is a workshop for small groups and projects who need to show that what they do is making a difference for women and girls – but don’t quite know where to start and don’t have much time or money to spend. Labyrinth Project will introduce a straightforward approach to planning and evaluation and suggest ways you can collect and present good evidence without over-burdening either yourselves or the women and girls you support.

You can email any questions relating to the evaluation needs of your specific project in advance and Labyrinth Project will try and address them in the session:  labyrinth@solacewomensaid.org

Thursday 3 March 2022 6.00 to 8.00pm / Brady Arts Centre / 192-196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU

You are invited to the Opening of Women's History Month in East London And the Preview of the Women's History Month Photo Show.

RSVP info@alternativearts.co.uk - Women’s History Month runs from 1-31 March 2022.

Tuesday, 8 March 2022 / 11.00am to 2.00pm / The Drum Wembley, Engineers Way, Wembley Park, HA9 0FJ
 
Women into Construction CIC are celebrating International Women’s Day with 'Women into Construction and Green Skills Courses and Careers Fair'.

Construction is a dynamic and creative industry for everyone – and if you are a woman looking for work, come along and learn how you can build a career in the industry! You’ll hear from employers, colleges and training providers across West London who offer courses and jobs to help you start your construction career, with free lunch and refreshments provided. They will also be launching some newly published research into green jobs and green skills in West London, showing you why a career in this exciting sector is a great idea for your future. This event is funded by the Mayor's Construction Academy West London and West London Green Skills Hub.

Guest speakers start promptly at 11am. Doors open at 10.30am. Event ends at 2pm.

Tuesday 8 March / Doors open @7.00pm / Show starts @7.30 / 21 Soho, 3-5 Sutton Row, London W1D 4NR / Tickets £10

An evening of stand up comedy to create awareness about domestic abuse and raise funds for Solace Women’s Aid.

Solace Women’s Aid exists to bring to an end the harm done through domestic and sexual violence to all survivors and in particular women and children. Their work is holistic, feminist and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse. 

Wednesday 9 March / Doors open @7.00pm / Show starts @7.30 / Rich Mix, 35-37 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA

Young women and girls are at risk of domestic abuse, sexual violence and harassment on the streets and in their homes. We’re on a mission to make London a safe place for everyone.

In London, the threat of violence against women and girls has been magnified. As we remember Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, and the countless other women who have lost their lives to male violence, it is vital that we come together to end violence and make sure every woman and girl is safe in our city.

This International Women’s Day event will put young women’s safety firmly back on the agenda, coming together with other vital organisations and changemakers to discuss how we can make London a safer city for every women and girl.

Thursday 10 March / 10.30am to 1.00pm / The Atrium Bethnal Green, 124 Dunbridge Street, E2 6EJ

In recognition of International Women’s Day Tower Hamlets Homes are celebrating women in leadership in Partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Homes, Account3, Women’s Inclusive Team and Limehouse Project. This event which will focus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women in Leadership.

Following findings from the Tower Hamlets Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Inequalities Commission, we know we need to do more to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women participate in civic life and progress into positions of leadership. This is a chance to consider the relationship between race and gender, consider what further action is needed, and shape our aspirations for a better future for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women.

Attendees will be able to engage in a panel discussion and hear from inspirational and successful Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn about their journeys into positions of leadership, and consider the key role of allies.

If you have any questions or wish to receive further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Partnerships Team: community.partnerships@thh.org.uk

Friday 11 March / 6.00 to 9.00pm / Republic, 2 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BE

This event is organised by BritBangla and OITIJ-JO Collective celebrating Bengali women and inspiring future generations for a sustainable tomorrow.

The event will open with a poem by Orin Begum (@orinspoems) 'Inspirational Women of Bengal' by Taryn Khanam BEM. Highlighting the Bengali female feminists, activists and shaped the modern Bengali: there will be a talk on Begum Rokeya, Sufia Kamal and other significant women from Bengal and their impact on the everyday lives of women in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi diaspora today. This will be followed by viewing the AJKER exhibition organised by the OITIJ-JO Collective. Light refreshments will be available.

Thursday 17 March / 10.00am to 12:30pm

What does ‘co-production’ really mean? And why is it so important in women’s projects?

This workshop will explore the various ways in which women participate in projects to improve their lives and change the world. These range from ‘having a voice’ to ‘running the whole show’. You will talk about power and status in our groups and organisations and share strategies for creating more equal relationships between staff, volunteers and women and girls supported by Labyrinth. This workshop is part of the Labyrinth Learning Series collection

Tuesday 1 March / 10.30am to 12.00pm / Mile End Children and Family Centre, 9 Bede Square, E3 4GY

Find out about the Early Education and Childcare Service and the support and nurture available for children with additional needs. Find out about the development of Speech and Language provision. Hear from Senior Leaders about plans and actions following the SEND Local Area Inspection.

If you are unable to attend and wish to hear the presentation you can join an online webinar over ZOOM: Wednesday 2 March / 5.30 to 6.30pm / Click HERE for link / Meeting ID: 763 7043 0434 - Passcode: c5GP5N

For more information contact: Family Information Service Tel: 020 7364 6495 / Email: TowerHamlets&City.SENDIASS@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Tuesday 1 March / 13.30 to 16.30pm / Conway Hall, Holborn

This trauma-informed network provides an opportunity to meet and reflect on trauma informed work, and share insights and ideas.

Collaboration is one of the five core values underpinning a trauma-informed approach. But how do we truly collaborate with those we work with? How exactly do we release the power and control that we can find ourselves holding onto?

Tuesday 1 March / 2.00 to 3.00pm / Online event

Want to know how to access land for a community growing project? Join community land specialist Kate Swade, co-director at Shared Asset.

Join in for this online event where Kate Swade, Co-director at Shared Assets will be speaking about how to access land for community growing projects. Shared Assets is a social enterprise with a mission to reimagine the land system.

Thursday 3 March / 10.30am to 12:00pm

In March 2022, please join the Council’s Arts, Parks and Events team and a a panel of speakers online to share what we’ve learned in the past year. Find out about future opportunities for collaboration, fundraising and project planning. East London bursts with diversity, creativity and cultural activity. Tower Hamlets continue to build on relationships with arts and events organisations across the voluntary, charitable and community sectors.

Tuesday 8 March / 3.00 to 4.00pm / Online Event

Self-directed support is about giving people control of the support they receive and the life they lead. It provides a positive shift in power and decision making that enables people to have a voice, to be heard and be connected to each other and their communities.

This online session will be delivered by Jean Eveleigh, who is a recipient of social care, and who has been writing her own care plan for the last six years. She finds there is a huge difference in quality when she writes the plan and when it is written by social services. Creating her Own Care Plan has been instrumental in her fight for receiving the right care she is entitled to. At this session, she will be sharing her story and answering questions on how you can start writing your care plan. Real Advocacy service will also be attending - they have over a decade of experience on supporting clients with securing care .

Wednesday 9 March / @2.00pm

Solace's Mental Health Domestic Abuse Caseworkers will be delivering a free training session regarding the intersection between mental health and domestic abuse. The training is for ELFT mental health professionals within Tower Hamlets.

Wednesday 9 March / 2.00 to 4.00pm

Find out how to make an objective hiring decision and select the best candidate, no matter what their disability status. Learn how you can make sure the job offer is inclusive and what to do about unsuccessful disabled candidates. Discover disability-friendly induction and onboarding processes. Make sure you can welcome all new starters to your organisation, encourage them to discuss any workplace adjustments and find out where you can go to get the expert advice you might need about resolving any challenges.

Thursday 10 March / 11.30am to 2.30pm / Brady Arts & Community Centre, 192-196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU

"Social prescribing" are words we are hearing more and more in regards to health - the idea of prescribing an activity rather than a pill. In Tower Hamlets there are some amazing people leading this service.

This is the second public meeting for The Health Tree - there will be an opportunity to come together and celebrate how social prescribing works in Tower Hamlets. Workshops will be led by some of our project partners including Tower Hamlet's GP Care Service, Spare Tyre Theatre My Moves and more.

Saturday 12 March / 11.00am to 3.30pm / St Matthew's Church, St Matthew's Row, Bethnal Green, London E2 6DT

Half-day interactive conference and debate on the future of East London and it's people. The recent 'Save Brick Lane' campaign witnessed anti-gentrification/social cleansing demonstrations not seen in the East End for decades, with thousands of people objecting to the plans to redevelop and corporatise the historic Truman Brewery on Brick Lane - a place of heritage, cultural and social significance. 7,500+ peoples' voices were ignored due to the relationship between elected representatives, planning departments, developer interest and wealthy landowners. We ask: how can we ensure a longterm future for East London's diverse communities without displacing them from their public places?

In this half-day policy conference you will receive updates from the Save Brick Lane Coalition and from other live campaigns and pressure groups. 

There are limited places so it's advised that you book early. Call 07915 234 404 or email bengaliheritagesociety@gmail.com if you have any questions. *There will be small fee to attend that will go towards the venue hire, lunchtime food and the legal fight.

Mind in Tower Hamlets are delivering Mental Health training to micro, small and medium-size businesses in the E1, E2, E3 & E14 postcode areas, after being funded by London Borough of Tower Hamlets. From now until June 30th 2022, Mind will be delivering a programme of Mental Health-based presentations, workshops and courses.

There will be a progressive approach, starting with presentations, then a workshop and then looking at a mix of one-day and/or two-day certificated First Aid for Mental Health courses.

The current proposed presentations, dates and times from February 28th to March 31st are:

1) Mental Health Awareness: Mondays 2.00 to 4.00pm - 28 February / 7 March / 14 March / 28 March

2) Recognising the Signs and Starting THAT conversation: Tuesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm - 2.00pm to 4.00pm - 8 March / 15 March / 22 March / 29 March / Thursday 31 March

3) Understanding Stress & Anxiety in the Workplace: Tuesdays 2.00pm to 4.00pm - 8 March / 22 March / 29 March / Thursday 31 March

Please contact Mind with your interests and questions: training@mithn.org.uk or call 0207 510 1081. Please also fill in this short survey to register your company or business details: Workplace Wellbeing Training Interest Form 

Until Wednesday 13 April / 7.15 to 9.45pm / London Buddhist Centre, E2 0HU

Do we give our life enough attention? While mindfulness is scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, can we practice it the way the Buddha taught? Ultimately the aim of mindfulness is to move towards reality itself, to progress toward the enlightened mind – mindfulness is about paying attention so that our life flourishes. On this course you'll learn to bring ancient meditation techniques to bear on modern life, helping you become more aware of your mind, body, and the people around you. Led by Maitreyabandhu, Garavavati and Suryanaga. In person and online. In person: £170 / £120, Online: £120 / £80. Includes book.

Each week the Director of Public Health, Dr Somen Banerjee, publishes a Covid-19 update to keep residents and partners informed about Covid-19 locally in Tower Hamlets. This week Dr Banerjee summarises the changes in national legislation and guidance.

All the trees that were brought down in the borough by recent storms will be replanted and the damaged wood used, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets has promised. 

Storm Eunice battered London and the South East, with extremely strong winds in excess of 80mph causing significant disruption and damage. Victoria Park was closed as a precautionary measure for the duration of the storm and the Martyrs' Day event in Altab Ali Park had to be cancelled. 

At least 48 of the 25,000 trees the Council manages were brought down across the borough, 10 were on highways and 38 in parks. Several roads were closed due to flying debris and loose roof panels. 

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: 

“We are doing a lot to make Tower Hamlets a cleaner and greener borough – and tree planting is a major part of our work. It’s a shame to lose so many trees to the storm, but we will replace them and make sure the wood is put to good use to improve our greenspaces and provide materials for local young artists.” 

Fund Priorities: The Department of Education is providing funding to local authorities to coordinate a holiday programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities to Free School meal benefit recipients during the Easter Holiday. These activities must last for a minimum of 4 hours per day and for at least 4 days over the Easter school holiday. Healthy meals must also be provided.

Delivery of the programme must take place during the Easter holiday, which falls between Saturday 2 April 2022 – Monday 18 April 2022. 

Need funds for your Platinum Jubilee Celebrations?
If you’re planning a street party, a community event or any sort of get-together and you need funds to deliver it, why not crowdfund your celebrations on Spacehive? 

Spacehive have created a special Jubilee Crowdfunding Guide to help you get started. Their team of experts will be on hand to help you with permissions and licenses, and you may even be able to tap into their network of local funders who can pledge to your campaign.

While almost all offline activity has ground to a halt, there’s never been a better time to embrace digital fundraising. That’s why Charity Digital created a 7-day Digital Fundraising Bootcamp, so you can fast track your way to becoming a digital-fundraiser.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive an email outlining best practice advice across all aspects of digital fundraising over the course of 7 days. Expect to learn everything from paid search to creative ways that will help you cut through the noise online.

Funding grassroots, neighbourhood-based community projects throughout the UK.The Happiness Fund is available to enable and support projects which improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities. Ultimately it creates happier people and neighbourhoods - think Holly Willoughby meets Sponge Bob Square Pants.

The People's Postcode Lottery are about to open our 2022 funding rounds for applications and wanted to give you an update for your supported organisations. Now more so than ever, voluntary groups, social enterprises and charities are playing an incredible role in supporting their communities.

With this they are delighted to announce an increase in the amount organisations can apply for. Registered charities, CICs and community benefit societies can now apply for up to £25,000. The amount for other types of non-profit organisations has also risen to £2,500. In addition they are now seeking applications for unrestricted funding from eligible organisations.

The first funding round of 2022 will open on 1st of February, with a round opening each month until October. Organisations may apply up to three times in 2022.

The dates with all funding opportunities are available on the trusts website along with the funding themes and application process.

This fund will make awards, using National Lottery funding, of between £300 and £10,000, from a total pot of up to £5m.  

Sport England want to mark and help celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year by supporting projects that bring a community together and provide opportunities for people who may be less physically active. They want organisations to consider how they could work more collaboratively across their community, in order to make the biggest possible impact.There are always more applications than Sport England are able to fund and so their priority is to support projects working with people in disadvantaged communities.

Funds are available for project costs such as facility hire and coaching, as well as for small capital improvements.

Don’t forget to apply for a two-year unrestricted grant of £50,000 before the end of the year. Check your eligibility in less than five minutes on our website by selecting one of 11 complex social issues. If the majority of your trustee board self-identifies as belonging to a Black, Asian or minority ethnic community, you can apply under our Racial Equity strand.

For its Spring 2022 funding round The Fore is offering 6-18 month grants of up to £15,000. The Fore make unrestricted grants which have the potential to have a transformational impact on an organisation. Transformational impact includes helping organisations become more sustainable, more efficient, to grow significantly or enabling an organisation to take a major step forward of some kind.

The Fore is particularly looking to fund small organisations working with marginalised groups and led by people in the community that may have found it hard to access trust and foundation funding in the past.

The Marketors City Livery Company has announced a new Charity Marketing Grants Programme for 2021-2, funded by its charity The Marketors’ Trust. A total of £20,000 is being made available as grants for small charities (turnover between £10,000 and £100,000 annual income) to run marketing and fundraising campaigns. There is one grant of £10,000 and four grants of £2,500 each

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has partnered with Enterprise Nation to deliver the Pivot Project, offering 150 small businesses in the borough a programme of business support and financial support of up to £1,000.

The initiative is open to businesses with up to 49 employees who were trading in Tower Hamlets before 30 June 2021 and whose business needs to adapt to a new business environment.

LBTH is offering social value resources for organisations with a turnover of less than £100,000.

Organisations can apply for resources including first aid training, ICT support, equipment in good working order, annual subscriptions, and officer support and mentoring from senior managers. Organisations can apply up to a value of £2000. Resources will be offered first come, first served as organisations who fit the eligibility criteria apply.