Sadiq Khan and TfL announce post-lockdown 'London Streetspace' programme

From the London Mayor's Office

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and TfL have today unveiled their ‘London Streetspace’ programme which will rapidly transform London’s streets to accommodate a possible ten-fold increase in cycling and five-fold increase in walking when lockdown restrictions are eased.

With London’s public transport capacity potentially running at a fifth of pre-crisis levels, millions of journeys a day will need to be made by other means. If people switch only a fraction of these journeys to cars, London risks grinding to a halt, air quality will worsen, and road danger will increase.

To prevent this happening, TfL will rapidly repurpose London’s streets to serve this unprecedented demand for walking and cycling in a major new strategic shift.

Early modelling by TfL has revealed there could be more than a 10-fold increase in kilometres cycled, and up to five times the amount of walking, compared to pre-COVID levels, if demand returns.

TfL, working with London’s boroughs will make changes - unparalleled in a city London’s size – to focus on three key areas:

• The rapid construction of a strategic cycling network, using temporary materials, including new routes aimed at reducing crowding on Underground and train lines, and on busy bus corridors.
• A complete transformation of local town centres to enable local journeys to be safely walked and cycled where possible. Wider footways on high streets will facilitate a local economic recovery, with people having space to queue for shops as well as enough space for others to safely walk past while socially distancing.
• Reducing traffic on residential streets, creating low-traffic neighbourhoods right across London to enable more people to walk and cycle as part of their daily routine, as has happened during lockdown.

Euston Road is one of the first main thoroughfares to benefit from temporary cycle lanes. Park Lane could follow suit under plans being studied.

The temporary schemes will be reviewed by TfL – and could become permanent.

TfL has already begun making improvements to boost social distancing using temporary infrastructure. Pavements have already been doubled in size at Camden High Street and Stoke Newington High Street and widened at six further locations* -  with more to follow in the coming weeks.

TfL has also worked with Hackney Council to close Broadway Market to through traffic and, with Royal Parks, to close through traffic at weekends to The Mall/Constitution Hill and all Royal Parks (except Regents Park).

Further improvements as part of the London Streetspace plan will include:

·       Creating new walking and cycling routes along major corridors, including temporary cycle lanes in Euston Road. TfL is also looking at creating temporary cycle lanes on Park Lane. Upgrades will also be made to existing routes including creating sections of temporary segregation from Merton to Elephant and Castle, and Pimlico to Putney. Space for cycling will be created between Catford town centre and Lewisham via the A21, and on the A23 between Oval and Streatham Hill.

·       The Cycleway 9 scheme between Kensington Olympia and Brentford, and the Cycleway 4 scheme between Tower Hill and Greenwich will be accelerated with temporary measures so the Londoners can benefit from them more quickly. Meanwhile on-street parking and lanes for cars and general traffic will be repurposed to give people on foot and on bikes more space.

·       Widening more pavements in town centres to allow people to access local essential shops and services more easily. Pavements will be widened in more than 20 locations, including in Brixton and Earl’s Court in the coming days.

·       Working to make walking and cycling in local neighbourhoods safer and more attractive by reducing the speed and volume of motor traffic. A low-traffic neighbourhood will be created in Hounslow along the future Cycleway 9 route by closing local roads to through traffic and further locations across London will follow, with TfL actively supporting boroughs to reduce motor traffic on residential streets to make walking and cycling safer and easier.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The capacity of our public transport will be dramatically reduced post-coronavirus as a result of the huge challenges we face around social distancing. Everyone who can work from home must continue to do so for some time to come. The emergency measures included in our major strategic London Streetspace programme will help those who have to travel to work by fast-tracking the transformation of streets across our city. Many Londoners have rediscovered the joys of walking and cycling during lockdown and, by quickly and cheaply widening pavements, creating temporary cycle lanes and closing roads to through traffic we will enable millions more people to change the way they get around our city.

“I urge the Government and boroughs to work with us to enable Londoners to switch to cleaner, more sustainable forms of transport - and reduce the pressure on other parts of our transport network – once the lockdown is eased.”

The measures announced today are just the beginning, with more information on the London Streetspace plans set to be announced shortly.

Gareth Powell, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “As people are choosing to walk and cycle, both for their essential journeys and for exercise during the lockdown it is vital that they have the space to do so safely and are able to continue socially distancing. The London Streetspace programme – providing more space for walking and cycling - will support that. It will also play a crucial role as London approaches the challenge of maintaining social distancing as restrictions on movement are relaxed.”

Stephen Edwards, Director of Policy & Communications at Living Streets, the UK's everyday walking charity says: "Wider pavements and low traffic neighbourhoods will undoubtably help people feel safer walking everyday journeys, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted the importance that walking plays in our lives; with huge numbers of Londoners walking as part of their daily exercise and for local shopping trips. Where London's pavements aren't suitable for safe social distancing, it is vital widening happens to ensure people aren't forced into the paths of oncoming traffic. Walking and cycling have a key role to play to take the pressure off public transport as we emerge from the lockdown, so it's great news that TfL are looking at enabling walkers and people cycling to travel safely. We look forward to working with them on this project."

Giulio Ferrini, Sustrans London Head of Built Environment, said:“As the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle, we’re excited to see ambitious plans at a London-wide and borough level. Local authorities are critical in reshaping our streets to strengthen London’s resilience now and as we emerge from lockdown. A potential surge in car use would clog up our streets with traffic, choke our lungs with pollution and exacerbate inequality. Now is the time to take positive action that will give all Londoners a cleaner city to live and work in. Bold actions from boroughs today can make a tangible difference to Londoners’ daily lives and will lead to a healthier, happier and fairer London as travel restrictions are lifted in the weeks to come.”

Dr Ashok Sinha, CEO of the London Cycling Campaign, said: “As the lockdown is eased, London will need to get moving again, but in a manner that maintains social distancing. The only way to do this effectively - whilst also avoiding a calamitous return to toxic air, high carbon emissions and traffic-choked streets - is to make it easier and safer for millions of people to walk and cycle. Large numbers of Londoners have already taken to cycling for essential travel and exercise during lockdown; the demand is there, and the Mayor’s new Streetspace plan can and should be the start of a permanent transition to a greener, healthier and more resilient city.”

Since London entered lockdown on 23 March, TfL has - as part of the national strategy to beat the virus - been urging Londoners to only make essential journeys.

TfL will continue to look at its existing walking and cycling projects to see where these could be used to create space for people walking and cycling more quickly.  

The new measures will build on TfL’s work, which has seen roads across London transformed under the Healthy Streets programme. The amount of protected space for cycling in London has tripled over the past four years, while major projects across the capital such as the transformation of Highbury Corner have increased in the amount of space available for people on foot. There are currently 160km of signed Cycleways across London.

Specific measures of London Streetspace will be announced in the coming weeks.

Covid-19 deaths in your area of Brent

At present the Church End area is showing the highest figures in Brent

Brent GP urges residents to wear facemasks

The following represents the views of the author. I am not qualified to judge its merits but have been urged to share by some concerned readers.  It was first posted on Brent Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook LINK

PLEASE WEAR A FACE MASK

Dear Brent neighbours,

 

I’m a GP living in Brent and one of a group of doctors and public health specialists, called Masks4All (see here: https://www.masks4all.org.uk/). We have been working hard to convince the government to advise the public to wear home-made face masks when going outdoors. This is especially important when entering enclosed spaces like shops, supermarkets and on public transport where it is not possible to observe the 2m rule.

 

We have the support of hundreds of doctors and specialists, including those in public health. Despite widespread publicity here in the UK and the fact that most countries in the world have now implemented such a policy, the government is “still considering the evidence”. Those countries who adopted masks early have done so much better than the UK in terms of infections and deaths.

We know that BAME communities have been hit very hard by Covid-19. Brent, Harrow and Barnet are among the five local authorities with the highest death rate in the UK from Covid-19. Ealing has also had a very high death toll in care homes. We believe we should use everything we can to fight this dreadful virus and face coverings are one more weapon in addition to social distancing, and hand washing.

 

There are three key points about face masks for the public: they work by protecting those around you by blocking droplet spread of the virus. They do not protect you from being infected, ie “I protect you and you protect me”. They only have an impact if we all do it. Secondly, high-grade PPE masks must be left for front line health and social care staff, because there is such a shortage of these. Thirdly, wearing a mask does not mean you can stop social distancing and handwashing; those are still critically important.

 

There is lots of information on our website: https://www.masks4all.org.uk/, including why ordinary cloth masks work to reduce transmission, and how to make your own mask. Lots of us are already making and wearing cloth masks, but not enough of us. The data indicates if 50% of people wear a mask we can cut transmission by half, and if 80% or more do so we can almost stop transmission altogether.

 

Masks for everyone will also be an important part of coming out of lockdown, when the time for that is right.

 

We can’t wait any longer for the government to make up its mind, every day means more infections and more deaths. So if you’re not doing it already, please wear a mask when you do your shopping, or go on the bus or train, or if you’re still at work, and help protect your local community. If you are happy to do so please share this. 

 

Many thanks,

 

Jonathan Fluxman

Tackling London poverty will be 'essential' to economic recovery - London Councils

From London Councils


Cllr Muhammed Butt, London Councils’ Executive Member for Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion, said:

London had the worst poverty in the UK ahead of the Covid-19 outbreak – and boroughs are hugely concerned that the pandemic’s economic impact will make the situation even worse.

Across London, boroughs see more and more people needing help. Too many Londoners already live lives plagued by insecurity, including low-wage work and homelessness, but Covid-19 has only ramped up the pressures further. We’re extremely worried by the relationship between coronavirus and health inequalities, with emerging data suggesting a particularly severe impact on BAME communities.

Boroughs are committed to tackling poverty and inequality and to achieve this we need strengthened powers and resources from central government to improve local support in our communities. The current crisis can’t be a distraction from this crucial national agenda. Reducing poverty and promoting opportunity will be essential to the UK’s economic recovery – and addressing London’s appalling poverty rates must be a key priority.

London faces the most severe homelessness crisis in the country. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, more than 56,000 London households lived in temporary accommodation – accounting for two-thirds of England’s total.

To address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the capital, boroughs are seeking improved support for council housebuilding. This requires an end to all national restrictions on the use of Right to Buy receipts, so that every penny raised from council house sales can be reinvested in replacements, and confirmation of long-term social rent levels.

London Councils is also calling for local government to be given an enhanced role in the welfare system. Boroughs have asked for full Universal Credit data sharing with local authorities – including notification when a claimant is sanctioned or affected by the Benefit Cap – and a restoration of national funding for Local Welfare Assistance to pre-2015/16 levels. This boost to Local Welfare Assistance funding is particularly important for councils increasing support for local residents facing financial hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keep parks open this holiday weekend

The Green Party has pressed the UK Government to help local authorities keep parks open this Easter bank holiday weekend. 

The party is calling on the government to deploy local authority staff in non-essential roles to ensure social distancing is maintained. It has also suggested that if over-crowding within these parks poses a risk to public health, then more green spaces such as 300,000 acres of golf courses should be opened. 

After Brockwell Park was closed in London last weekend by Lambeth Council after people were seen sunbathing there and Health Secretary Matt Hancock highlighted possible banning of outdoor exercise, concern has arisen over whether parks will remain open during the bank holiday. 

Co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley considers that it would be a discriminatory decision to close parks to those who do not have a private garden in which to access green space, stating:

Where are people with no gardens supposed to go for their exercise?"

Considering the importance of outdoor spaces for the British public Bartley commented: 

Bank holiday weekend is coming up and it is absolutely vital that people continue to follow the public health advice on social distancing. However, it is also crucial that people have access to green spaces to go for their daily exercise.

Many of these parks serve people who don’t have any other access to an outdoor space. It is outrageous that government and local councils would discriminate against people who don’t have any other choice than using their publicly owned park.

There is an inherent inequality in the fact that people who do not have gardens are being told they can no longer even go to their parks to exercise over this Easter bank holiday weekend. Where are people with no gardens supposed to go for their exercise in urban areas where they cannot easily or safely socially distance on the streets?

Government should be working with councils to help them do everything they can to monitor parks and ensure people are keeping to the social distancing rules. This way, we can be sure to keep the parks open and protect people’s health from coronavirus.

The need for clear messages on Covid-19 restrictions

Communicating with parents at a Brent primary school made me very aware of how important it was to be absolutely clear in messaging, leaving no room for ambiguity. Nevertheless I was often caught out when a message was misconstrued. This is partly because in our varied population there are many people still at the early stages of learning English and adults with literacy problems, but also because I did not take sufficient care.

A reader has pointed out that there is ambiguity in the above image with the 'Stay home' very clear but an attractive image of a picnic.  The accompanying text is very wordy.  The message does not directly address the burning issue of the use of parks and maintaining a 2 metre distance. Many of us are fearful that London's parks will be closed to the detriment of people who do not have gardens in which to exercise.

Perhaps a cross through the image would make more impact:

Othet neighbouring boroughs have made more effort to use visual messaging to ensure clarity of communication:

Brent Council has put similar messages up on its park entrances but I have not seen them on social media.

UPDATED: Support Unite's call for PPE for bus drivers

I spoke to two bus drivers at the nearby terminus today to express sympathy for the death of their colleagues from Covid-19 - they too are front-line workers who get other front-line workers to work. I support the call for drivers to have personal protective equipment (PPE).

Commentating on the tragic news that five London bus workers have now died of the coronavirus.  Unite regional secretary, Peter Kavanagh said:

Each of these deaths is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of everyone at Unite goes to the families of the bus workers who have died of coronavirus.

Unite will assist the families of our members in every possible way during this terrible time.

Unite has been working continuously with Transport for London (TfL) and the operators to ensure the safety of drivers and others in the industry who are performing a heroic job in getting NHS and care workers to their places of work.

These measures include deep cleaning of buses, additional cleaning of touch points, the sealing of screens around the driver, the provision of hand sanitizer for all and placing the passenger seating closest to the driver out of bounds.

I have been in direct contact with the mayor of London who shares our view that bus drivers must be fully protected.

My officers are holding daily meetings with TfL, exploring further safety improvements and we are absolutely committed to doing everything in our power to make the driving of buses safe during this unprecedented crisis. 

We are also calling on the government to make provisions for transport workers in terms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

 If any driver has safety concerns, then it is imperative that they inform their employer and Unite representative immediately. The union will immediately act on all such concerns.

UPDATE:

TfL is piloting a new method of boarding buses to protect drivers. Passengers will board through the middle doors.  LINK

 

Brent Council issues urgent call for more volunteers to help residents during Covid-19 pandemic

Bridge Park Food Delivery Hub (Photo: Brent Council)

As readers will know there are now Covid-19 Mutual Aid groups in most Brent wards that were set up more than two weeks ago  LINK  Brent Council yesetrday lauched a campaign to recruit more volunteers and said that they would like to hear from community groups that are already 'up and running.'

This is the appeal that was made on the Council website yesterday.

We know lots of you want to volunteer and help in this crisis - so here’s your chance.

We need even more exceptional people to step forward and help with the borough’s efforts to provide a safety net for our vulnerable residents during this pandemic.

We’ve already got plenty of eager volunteers signed up to help their neighbours as well community groups to provide support to those who need it most – but we need more.

We’re working in close partnership with the voluntary sector, and through the CVS, who will help match your strengths, skills and attributes with the jobs that need doing now.

Volunteers can sign-up now on the Council’s web pages at: https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-community/coronavirus/volunteering/. Just fill out the Volunteering sign up form;

We would also like to hear from community groups who are already up-and-running. Would you like to receive our help and support just like our partners in our mutual aid group? Then sign-up to volunteer at: Community Group form.

Anyone who volunteers will be appropriately matched to roles that have been identified as really important as we fight this disease.

And don’t be put off if you haven’t got a current DBS check. Even if you don’t have a current DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) we can apply for one for you.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

We have already reinforced the safety net in Brent by redeploying council staff into different roles. For example, we’ve transformed Bridge Park Leisure Centre into a new food delivery hub, staffed by teams from across the Council, which is delivering much-needed supplies to the most vulnerable, receiving things like pasta, cereal, fruit, tea bags and toilet rolls.

But more community support would be very welcome and I urge anyone who feels they could give their time and energy over the coming weeks, or even months, to register their details on our website as soon as possible.

 Working with our partners, the faster we act now, the more lives we can save.

Your help could make such a huge difference to the lives of so many people in Brent and from the bottom of my heart, we thank those that are already signed up, for making such a difference already.

Dedicated borough-based Covid-19 clinics to be established by NW London CCGs

Responding to Saturday's tweet (above) by Cllr Ketan Sheth (Chair of Brent Council's Commnity and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee) a spokesperson for the MedianWL North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, said:

The eight CCGs in North West London are establishing a joint primary care response to COVID-19. This will include patients being managed both remotely and face to face by GPs. Face to face management will require dedicated clinics and we are establishing these in each borough. Patients will access the clinic through referral by the NHS 111 service or their practice.’​

Residents identified by NHS as 'highest risk' should expect a call from Brent Council

From Brent Council website today

We are currently making calls to residents who the NHS have identified as being at highest risk from coronavirus (COVID-19).

These individuals will have received a letter from the NHS instructing them to self-isolate for a period of 12 weeks, so we will be contacting them as we receive their details to ensure that they are aware of how to access support if they need it.

We want to make sure that we put necessary support in place as fast as possible, so we will be making these calls as we receive new data from the NHS.

Staying safe

This might mean you receive a call from us outside of normal office hours. It's important to stay safe at this challenging time. You can be reassured that calls are genuine as long as they begin with the 0208 937 prefix. We will never ask for your bank details and you should never share your PIN with anyone, or invite someone you don't know into your home.

If you are unsure, you can  call back on our helping on 0208 937 1234 from Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

London Borough of Culture on hold

From the GLA

The Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons, has today announced changes to the London Borough of Culture programme in response to the impact of coronavirus.  

Brent 2020 is rescheduling its programme until later in 2020, with the Kilburn High Street Party and Liberty Festival, the Mayor of London’s free festival celebrating of the work of Deaf and disabled artists, happening in the summer of 2021. Lewisham’s year as London Borough of Culture will move to 2022. Croydon will remain London Borough of Culture for 2023.

Justine Simons said: 

It’s important that we all follow the Government’s instructions to stay at home unless it is essential to leave. But we do not want Londoners to miss out on the amazing creative programmes that Brent, Lewisham and Croydon have planned, so that is why we have re-scheduled our plans. We will work closely with artists, the boroughs and all those involved to ensure they are supported during these challenging times.

Advice on allotment gardening during Covid-19 restrictions

From the National Allotment Society

Following the instructions around movement and gatherings from the Prime Minister on 23 March 2020, we are consulting with central government but as we understand the situation at the moment it is still permitted to visit your plot, ideally on your own to take daily exercise. It is vitally important that you follow all the advice about social distancing and hygiene in the points below and not gather together on site.

Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should not be visiting the site.

Associations should display an advice notice on their boards. It is important that anyone attending the allotment takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoid body contact and wash hands at taps, do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks and please pay attention to notice boards.

It is essential that no un-authorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency, if you do wish to bring someone to assist with work on the plot, please ensure that that this is notified either to Secretary or Site Manager.  Careful consideration should be given to introducing anyone over 70, those with underlying illness or pregnant women.

We are living through a crisis, the likes of which none of us has experienced before, not since war time has the community spirit that exists on allotment sites been more important.  Please remember to look out for one another during these very difficult times.

Members should take the following precautionary measures :

• Keep hand sanitiser in your shed and wash your hands regularly
• Use hand sanitiser before opening and closing any gate locks
• Observe “Social Distancing” with each other 2-3 metres
• Do not share tools
• Minimise the contact with each other for example no handshakes
• Do not wash your hands in water troughs
• We recommend that all communal facilities are closed
• Click here for guidance if you do need to clean an area that has been visited by an infected person.

• Plan ahead to ensure that you have food and medication delivered to you during this time
• Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
• If you display any symptoms of coronavirus stay at home and self-isolate for at least 14 days or until symptoms have passed.

Covid-19: Brent Council sets up Wellbeing Helpline for the vulnerable who have no other support 020 8937 6589

From Brent Council

Helping the most vulnerable

For the most vulnerable, the most isolated and the most at risk of being taken advantage of, the council is working closely with our voluntary and community sector and wider health partners to arrange a more co-ordinated response.

If you or someone you know does not have the support of family, friends or the wider community, then Brent Council has set up a Wellbeing Duty phone line to make sure the most vulnerable people get the support they need.

Wellbeing Duty phone line

If you are worried about a vulnerable person and don’t think they have existing support, you can call the helpline on 020 8937 6589 between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.
Services we can offer include:

• Shopping/meal delivery/access to food
• Help with collection/arranging medication
• Outreach and peer support for the socially isolated

Trained social care professionals are answering the new helpline number. They will ask a series of questions to establish what support the individual needs and then put in place what is required if there is no other way that someone can be supported.

We will also ensure that where people need more formal, social care support we will put this in place for them if required and as we normally would.

EDITOR'S NOTE Brent Council stress that the helpline is only for those who have NO other support and ask that it be used wisely.

Covid-19: Brent's parks stay open but children's playgrounds, MUGAs, tennis courts and outdoor gyms to close

 Kelly Eaton, Brent Parks, Policy and Projects Manager has written to Brent Parks Forum to update them on partial closures in the borough's parks.

I just wanted to update you in this time of uncertainty with the current Covid-19 situation.

You may have seen in the news this weekend, reports of large numbers of visitors to Parks and Open Spaces.  We all know how important parks are for physical and mental wellbeing, however in the current climate we are concerned that people are not heeding social distancing advice and are crowding together in playgrounds, Multi Use Games Areas and gyms.

I am therefore writing to you as ‘Friends of ‘ groups in our parks to advise that as of today (Monday), we are closing children’s playgrounds, Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) , tennis courts and, where possible, outdoor gyms.  Signs will be placed on gates to each facility advising that it is closed until further notice. Any toilet facilities will also be closed and we are currently in liaison with the two café’s in Roundwood and Gladstone Park as to their operating status.

We do not take this decision lightly, but it has been made in the interests of public health.

I hope that you understand our decision and please contact me if you have any further questions about this approach.

We’re glad that people are still using our parks for a breath of fresh air, but we are asking park users respect public health advice to:

•           Stay two metres away from others

•           Not touch their face

•           Wash their hands thoroughly as soon as they get home

AT LAST! The government's key worker list for allocation of places in schools from next week

The government has made it extremely difficult for schools  to plan provision for the new era of 'in  school but not school' which begins on Monday. In Brent headteachers will be meeting early this morning with the Director of Child and Young People to plan provision in Brent which will probably be via clusters of schools.

This is the government guidelines for schools:

As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.

And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.

That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

We know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so.

Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
3. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
5. Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

Health and social care

This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

Education and childcare

This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.

Key public services

This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

Local and national government

This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.

Food and other necessary goods

This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

Public safety and national security

This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

Transport

This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

Utilities, communication and financial services

This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.

If your school is closed then please contact your local authority, who will seek to redirect you to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.

We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.

Covid-19 closes Preston Community Library

Thanks to everyone at Preston Community Library for the above and wishing them well during this difficult time.

UPDATED WITH WHATSAPP WARD LIST Brent Covid-19 Mutual Support Group joins nationwide movement

Dozens of ‘mutual aid’ groups have sprung up across the country to support those suffering from the effects and threat of the Coronavirus outbreak[1]. 68 groups have been set up online, with volunteers coordinating via WhatsApp and Facebook groups and offering people in self-isolation help with shopping, dog walking and picking up prescriptions. 

Brent Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook Group is HERE and regularly updated with ward level information.

The groups, which are being coordinated nationally by ‘Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK’, have organised online meetings today, as well as taking to the streets to give people flyers describing the kind of support they are offering.[2] As well as practical support the groups are offering telephone calls with people who are self-isolating due to infection or increased vulnerability.

Anna Vickerstaff, one of the coordinators of the national network, said:

“No matter what we look like, where we live, or how much money we have, getting sick reminds us that at our core we’re all just human. And in every country it’s the old, the sick and those already struggling who will be affected worse. That’s why we set this network up - because we want to make sure that no one in our communities is being left to face this crisis alone, and because we want to try and redress some of the serious inequalities this outbreak will expose.

“Groups are being set up and run entirely by volunteers - and our hope is that they can help to make sure people who need support get it. With the NHS and public services having been so ruthlessly underfunded in the last decade, we really just want to make sure that people don’t end up suffering alone, or without the basics and support that they need from the outside world.

“There’s some pretty big questions about whether or not the government’s response to this crisis has been fit for purpose. So it’s even more important that so many ordinary people across the country are keen to offer solidarity to each other in a moment of need. We’d love to see even more communities get involved too - and we’re developing resources to help people take action in their neighbourhoods.” 

Contact: Kevin Smith on kevin@neweconomyorganisers.org 

Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK social media channels: Twitter | Facebook

[1] A full list of groups is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18P898HWbdR5ouW61sAxW_iBl3yiZlgJu0nSmepn6NwM/edit#gid=1451634215

[2] An example of the flyers is above

Local WhatsApp Groups

Start a WhatsApp group for your ward and post the link as a comment under this post. Find out which ward you're in here: https://www.brent.gov.uk/gis-maps/constituencies-map/

Fryent & Queensbury Wards: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bn8Cy69ZwBx6q1LP0Wl7nZ
Welsh Harp Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FYn2vN9DpPQI1yuShQRRJS

Preston Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HJtBJ7J1qD4AlntPENQHoM

Sudbury Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bg55G0YkHwD8wzhM5dZPFe

Wembley Central & Tokyngton Wards: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LpiXo1PWhKo3E7N81ytMnY

Alperton Ward: http://bit.ly/AlpertonCommunity

Dollis Hill Ward:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/LVKL3OtAr5C8T4Q2ZdZMor

Dudden Hill Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GXkw2mPyFQGDrpFeI6OpKJ

Harlesden Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JaPl27n631hB9s7dsU4JRb

Stonebridge Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EPo4hiDPleJCzqxCHtu6aS

Kensal Green Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ErIH3qh58x9ItoloWMbPVm

Willesden Green Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HR4w5JBb54lIDnb1kKmgAv

Mapesbury Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KwsPFCaRykuBYbd13oee2C

Queens Park Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/InRvopV6bDN8xWpEMnwtwP

Brondesbury Park Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LY4Wop8q7MXEW7PdagoTfI

Kilburn Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BmhmzqqVoQjGstCRqnbaiJ

Neasden Ward: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K6dMaUFYLwD1jT2J0JLMJG?fbclid=IwAR0G5XxYQmhPDsZyoJ1wmiVig9PdjrfzLmD33aZZeTf5o2_nSDfD-9Hs2oc
Barnhill  https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gjs9fPraprdAwxStabFuCe?fbclid=IwAR1N06GuM2HB4h0T2bD2KW2FMry4aikpeOE2FvRqLlwrIvxH4vtpvLeuka8

Thanks to Ian Saville for this sign that people who are self-isolating may wish to place on their front door. (Click on bottom right corner to enlarge)