Tuesday 16 January / 6.00 to 8.00pm / Location TBA

Join the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum (THIF) to hear from the London Fire Brigade Community Engagement Team, plus other guest speakers.

The London Fire Brigade serves and protects our borough, and also enages with the local community to make people aware of the latest safety campaigns and precautions that can save lives, such as saving money while staying safe and #ChargeSafe - due to the growing problem of fires involving lithium batteries.

The THIF will also be joined by:

• Paula Lyttle and Faisa Yusuf from LB Tower Hamlets Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team, who will be telling us abbout the vital work taking place in the borough
• Mike Fill from London Borough of Tower Hamlets Ending Rough Sleeping Team who will update on the work to keep vulnerable people safe during the winter weather
  

The THIF also want to hear about your plans, projects and challenges for the year ahead, and hear your views on areas of focus for THIF in the next twelve months.

All are welcome and tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Programme starts Monday 19 February /10.00am to 2.30pm @ account3

account3's bespoke Dare to Lead, is a 12 week leadership programme aimed at elevating the skills and knowledge of ethnically diverse women living in Tower Hamlets is back. 

account3 are now calling and inviting all women residents of the LBTH, that identify themselves as Black, Asian and or ethnically diverse, to register and take this amazing journey. The course is aimed at women who would like to be leaders in their chosen field and want to contribute to a positive change in the wider community. 

For more information, please contact 0207 739 7720 / admin@account3.org.uk

Every Tuesday 6.00 to 8.00pm / Toynbee Hall E1 6LS

Join elop's weekly LGBT+ Social Support group. It is a general social group and open to all over 18 to connect and talk! For more information and to sign up, please call 07908 553744 or email events@elop.org.uk

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. If you want to find out more on how to get involved or if you have information you would like to share with the networks please get in touch.

This is the first SWEP activation of the year and will ensure that councils across London, alongside homelessness charities, open additional emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could pose a threat to life. All boroughs in London have committed to the Mayor's 'In for Good' principle, which means no one will be asked to leave accommodation until a support plan is in place to end their rough sleeping, regardless of an increase in temperature.

SWEP was active for 28 nights last winter and was active for five days in November and December 2023. A total number of 1,350 people were helped off the streets last winter, with 560 people being accommodated during the first SWEP period this winter.

Public Health England have also released a Cold Weather Plan - 'Keeping healthy when it's really cold'. Click here to read it (easy read version).

Applications for a free, BHF-funded defibrillator are now open. Applications will close on 15 March 2024.

All eligible UK-based community groups can apply. Each organisation can only apply for one award package.

A limited number of funded defibrillators are available in each annual funding cycle. Applications will be reviewed monthly against a set of criteria so awards can be made to communities that need them most. Areas prioritised include those with fewer registered defibrillators and communities where local health needs indicate a higher risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

This is a 3-part training being delivered over 3 half days virtually on the following dates:

Part 1: Monday 15 January - 9.00am to 12.00pm
Part 2: Thursday 8 February - 9.30am to12.30pm
Part 3: Monday 4 March - 9.30am to12.30pm
or
Part 1: Wednesday 24 January - 9.30am to 12.00pm
Part 2: Monday 19 February - 9.30am to 12.30pm
Part 3: Wednesday 13 March - 9.30am to 12.30pm

What does it mean to become an anti-racist organisation? Local Health and Care staff are invited to this 3-part "How to be a better ally" programme. While many of us believe in our ability to recognise and challenge racism when we see it, the reality is different. Even when we do recognise it, we might risk being bystanders, unsure of how to take action.

At the end of the workshop, learners will understand racism and how it can hide in plain sight, recognise some of our personal reluctance to address this agenda, explore how we show up as someone who wants to do more to champion and take accountability for antiracism. Limited places are available

Thursday 18 January / 10.00am to 1.00pm 

A half day course which aims to enable the learner to grasp a deeper understanding of many different issues associated with adult family violence. A list of some of these issues include, definitions, estimates of the different types of assault, various forms of abuse and theories of AFV, the physical and psychological consequences of family violence, current treatments for both victims and perpetrators, and various policy recommendations aimed at ending family violence.

For those who have a Learning Hub log in - please apply via Learning Hub External staff please apply using this External Partner’s link. For more information, please email learning.Hub@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Click here for a list of all Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) training opportunities January 2024 – March 2024.

Wednesday mornings (6 weeks course) 24 January, 31 January, 7 February, 21 February, 28 February & 6 March / 10.00am to 12.30pm / Stepney Park Primary School Smithy Street, E1 3BW

Is everyday life sometimes stressful? Feeling pressured by children and family life? You're not alone! Take time out for self-care. During the course you will:

• Meet other parents and build up a network of support
• Discover new ways to manage your worries.
• Identify the early signs of anxiety in adults, children, and young people
• Find out about services available in Tower Hamlets to support families

Self-referrals are accepted - please email: parenting@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call on 020 7364 6398

Wednesday 24 January / 10.30am to 1.00pm / on ZoomZoom

This practical, interactive, online session will provide an overview of the essential aspects of managing volunteers or coordinating a volunteering programme. It is aimed at both staff who are fairly new to managing volunteers (or have not previously had formal training) as well as those who need a refresher.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand the key principles of good practice in managing, supporting and motivating volunteers
• Have identified good practice at each key stage of a ‘volunteer journey’ (e.g. enquiring, application, interview, induction, support and supervision, exit) as well as in developing roles and managing risks
  
• Understand the policies and procedures you should have in place to recruit and safeguard volunteers 
• Know where to find practical support with volunteer management
• Have identified actions that you can take back to your organisation to improve how volunteers are managed

Priority will be given to voluntary sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents. Please email info@vcth.org.uk if you have any questions.

Applications close on 29 January

This introductory programme is designed to support residents across North East London Boroughs, enabling them to gain essential employability skills in the NHS, and in particular General Practice Primary Care. Learners will embark on a three week journey where you will learn key skills on becoming a receptionist/administrator in a GP Surgery. You will attend a 5 day classroom based training programme followed
by a 2 week work placement in a Health Care setting.

Training will commence on 19 February. If you have any queries please contact farduse.islam@nhs.net.

Wednesday 31 January / 10.00 to 11.45am & Monday 19 February / 2.00 to 3.45pm

Introduction to Trans Awareness Multi-disciplinary - Open to clinical and non-clinical staff.

• Set the wider context for trans identities - how sex, gender and sexual orientation interact
• Explore key terms and uses of language
• Offer basic grounding in the legislation around the rights and responsibilities around trans identities; the Equality Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004
• Begin to explore how an organisation can ensure it is being trans-inclusive
• Explore scenarios relevant to your setting
• Provide links to a wide range of resources

Tuesday 13 February / 5 March, Thursday 24 March / 2.00 to 4.00pm

The NEL Health Equity Academy, in partnership with the London Leadership Academy, is very pleased to be able to offer to members of the NEL Health Inequalities Community of Practice a workshop in influencing without formal authority. This two hour virtual workshop will focus on providing participants with an understanding of how to influence and lead when lacking formal authority or the feeling of power, to build confidence to understand the power and influence they have and arm them with practical tools to take back to their teams. 

Click here to watch the video: Influencing Without Authority by Jeanne Hardacre who will be facilitating the sessions. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to get in touch with Abigail.dowdesewell@nhs.net

Celebrating women artists, activists, writers, performers, community groups and organisations, with a diverse programme of exhibitions and events across East London.

If you are planning a relevant exhibition / performance / event / workshop during March 2024 please let us know so that Alternative Arts can include your activities in the Women’s History Month programme which will be widely promoted. Participation is FREE. The programme will also include events celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024 and International Women’s Week 4-10 March 2024.

Deadline for submission extended to 15 January 2024. Earlier submission appreciated. Please send the following information and an image to info@alternativearts.co.uk:

• Venue name and address with full postcode
• Nearest tube station
• Website and phone number
• Title of Event / Exhibition
• Date(s) and Time(s) of Event / Exhibition
• Admission charges (if any)
• Names of Artists / Performers / Writers involved
• Brief description
• One image
• Contact name and email (not for publication)

For more information, contact info@alternativearts.co.uk / 020 8800 6665 

The theme for next year's IWD 2024 celebration is 'Inspiring Inclusion', and London Borough of Tower Hamlets would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments and achievements of women in Tower Hamlets.

The Women's Achievement Awards are dedicated to recognising and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women in Tower Hamlets who have excelled in various fields. The awards acknowledge six different categories, which are all open for public nominations:

• Women Business Leader of the Year
• Young women of the year
• Unsung Hero
• Women Volunteer of the Year
• Women’s Community Group of the Year
• Women Carer of the year

These awards represent resilience, leadership, and innovation. The event will showcase their accomplishments and provide them with a platform that fosters inspiration, inclusion, and empowerment. This will create more opportunities for female leadership within our communities. 

Please participate by nominating deserving women in Tower Hamlets who have made significant impacts in their respective fields. You can submit your nomination here. The nomination deadline is 19 January 2024.

The IWD 2024 event will be held on Thursday 7 March / 11.00am to 3.00pm at Atrium, 124-126 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ. Please look out for an invitation through eventbrite.

Tower Hamlets has some of the highest levels of reported mental health illness in London, and recently, there has been an increase in the number of people struggling with mental ill health due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

It is known that older adults aged 65 or older and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds - in particular those who live in the more deprived areas of the borough - are less likely to access mental health support services when needed.

With this survey, Healthwatch Tower Hamlets seeks to collect feedback to identify barriers that exist for these groups and how they can be overcome. This survey is for anyone living in Tower Hamlets who is aged 65 or older OR from an ethnic minority community (OR both).

It is 100% confidential and anonymous and you do not have to answer any questions if you do not wish. The feedback from this survey will be used to create a report of the key findings that will be shared with the local NHS and other stakeholder organisations to help improve services to better meet the needs of the local population.

If you have any questions about this survey, please email info@healthwatchtowerhamlets.co.uk or call 0800 145 5343.

NHS North East London (NHS NEL) are working with Council colleagues to create some videos about vaccines, and want ideas and questions from local people to shape their work.  

Before making anything, they want to hear from local residents about what you’d like to see and hear in the videos. A short, anonymous survey has been created to get your input on both the videos and how you make decisions about vaccines so NHS NEL can shape the content and look of the videos for your community.

NHS NEL would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to share your thoughts so that they can make sure the videos reflect what local residents want to see and would find helpful. You can do this by completing the survey.

Rooted Finance offers free specialist money and debt advice services to help you overcome your financial struggles. In January they have additional capacity to help you regain control of your finances.

Here are some of the areas they can support you:

• Rooted Finance offer guidance on all personal debts, including rent arrears, council tax arrears and credit cards
• They can provide food and fuel vouchers
• Help to maximise income
• Process debt relief Orders (DRO), bankruptcies or Breathing Space applications

Call their free confidential advice line on 0203 475 8881 Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Friday 12 January / 11.00am to 2.00pm / St Paul's Way Community Centre, 83 St Paul's Way, E3 4AJ

Global Eyes and Vision Ability invite you to a Demonstration of Low Vision Equipment, by Vision Aid. At this workshop you can experience the use of handheld, transportable and desktop sized electronic magnifiers, text to speech solutions, wearable electronic magnifiers and computer connectable devices. For more information contact globaleyes.london@gmail.com or info@visionability.org.uk

Thursday 18 January / 5.30 to 8:30pm / Green Light Youth Club 223 Bow Road,  E3 2SJ

JOIN CACATH (Caribbean & African Community Association Tower Hamlets) for the launch of their organisation to promote the welfare of Caribbean and African people in Tower Hamlets. All ages event, free entry, free refreshments, live entertainment, guest speakers. For more information, email team@cacath.com.

Thursday 18 January / 7.00 to 10.00pm / Christian Resource Centre, Upper Floor, Devon's Hall, E3 3NL

Join the Christ Apostolic Church for a free peer networking session focused on entrepreneurship and job opportunities. For more information, please call 07956 387 443.

Start date: Tuesday 23 January / There will be 5 sessions that occur on Tuesdays: 23 Jan*, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 5 Mar, 26 Mar* from 10.15 to 11.30am / *First and last sessions will finish at 12pm / Seminar Room (1st Floor), Newby Place Health and Wellbeing Centre, 21 Newby Place, E14 0EY

What to expect:

• Understand how low mood, depression & anxiety can affect you
• Learn relaxation techniques
• Explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Share your experience in a safe space
• Sessions will be delivered in English and refreshments will be available

How to register: To register you must be aged 18 or over and registered to one of the following GP practices: Aberfeldy Practice, Chrisp Street Health Centre, Gough Walk Practice, Limehouse Practice

Wednesday 31 January / 10.00 to 11:30am / On Zoom

Social Action for Health have surveyed 1,000 Minoritised Ethnic Men from Hackney & Tower Hamlets about their mental health. Please join them as they share their findings.

18 months ago they held our first "Big Conversation" about Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Men's mental health with the local community. They used the insights and recommendations from that event to plan and run their activities including conducting a survey of 1,000 men in Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Social Action for Health are excited to bring participants, the local community & community partners together to share the survey results and discuss insights and next steps. They are holding two in-person community events and this event online. Zoom details will be shared separately to those registered. 

Thursday 21 March / 10.00am to 1.00pm / Online

An invitation for professionals, particularly in social care, to join SEEN. - Centre for African, Asian and Caribbean Children & Young People on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The principles of social justice are woven into the very fabric of social care in the UK. The aim of the children’s social care profession is to meet the basic human needs of all children and young people and enhance their wellbeing. Structural inequality, racism, and oppression are significant barriers to delivering these ambitions and young people on an individual level can’t overcome these deep-rooted issues. Increasingly we are called to address challenges to equity on a systemic level to achieve social justice. This calls for us to bravely reimagine how our system functions and what it can achieve.

The scale of the challenge before us can appear insurmountable but can be realised through social action. Social action harnesses collective power and resources to create the conditions for positive change in our UK structures, creating a just and equitable society. This conference aims to explore examples of social action and applications in practice because together we can.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets vision is to support and invest in a thriving and diverse voluntary and community sector to help improve the lives of residents. To support this vision, the council has launched the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme (grants from £500 to £6,000). The new programme will provide £800,000 of annual grant funding between November 2023 and March 2027.

The Small Grants are for small organisations with a maximum annual income of £150,000. This is to ensure a wide range of organisations can access council funding and ensure all sections of the community benefit.

The council will be delivering information events focusing on:

• Their vision and priorities for the grants programme
• The application process, including guidance and our online grants management system

Date: Thursday 18 January
Time: 5.30 to 7.00pm
Venue: The Reach Community Hub, 11 Oliphant St, London, E14 0GB 

Date: Wednesday 24 January
Time: 10.00 to 11.30am
Venue: Council Chamber, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ

Deadline to apply: Midday on 2 February 

Trust for London want to fund organisations fighting for the rights of Disabled people. This includes work that strengthens the ability of DDPOs to engage in campaigning, policy, advocacy and to push for change. Or projects that enable DDPOs to do behind the scenes work so that they can be better run. They are also keen to fund work that contributes to growing, broadening and diversifying the Disability movement. Trust for London are expecting to give away around £1.2 million in total. There are two strands of funding available:

• Development grants of up to £20,000, for new and small organisations
• Larger grants for up to £180,000 over a period of 2-3 years

Deadline to apply: 4 March 2024 @5pm

The Clothworkers’ Foundation is a UK-wide funder providing capital grants to organisations supporting disadvantaged and marginalised communities and individuals.

Their Open Grants Programme accepts applications for capital projects from UK registered charities or not-for-profits .They fund both large and small projects. The Small Grants Programme awards grants of up to £15,000. The Large Grants Programme awards grants over £15,000 and typically, not more than £150,000.

Organisations providing services to beneficiaries that fall within their 10 programme areas can apply for support. The Clothworkers’ Foundation will consider applications from organisations where at least 50% of their beneficiaries fall within one or more of our programme areas.

Deadline: Ongoing

Social connections and community activities are at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society. That’s why National Lottery Awards for All England support amazing community-led projects. They offer funding from £300 to £20,000 and can support your project for up to two years. You can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges.

National Lottery Awards for All can fund projects that’ll do at least one of these things:

• Bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
• Improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
  help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
• Support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Deadline: Ongoing. Apply at least 16 weeks before you want to start the activities or spend any of the money.

For over 40 years, the King Charles III Charitable Fund has supported His Majesty’s charitable work. The Fund is on a mission to transform lives and build sustainable communities through grantmaking, social investment and incubation of initiatives and projects.

The Fund has invested more than £100 million in charitable causes in the UK and overseas. Grants are awarded to a wide range of good causes across our funding themes: Environment, Countryside, Social Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing, Heritage and Conservation and Education.

Deadline: Ongoing