I’m writing to you with my latest update on the response to the
Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic in
Harrow. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[Covid Update from GT]

Dear John,

Over the past week, Harrow has seen a rise in 468 cases. The below
table shows Harrow’s current ranking among London boroughs. The
current case rate locally stands at 195.5 cases per population of
100,000 – I understand that a high case rate particularly within the
over 60 category is of growing concern and is being closely watched.
This morning, newspapers are leading with an expected return to a
three-tiered system from December 2nd. Plans are expected be announced
tomorrow, with the expectation that more areas are set to be placed
into the higher tiers and some tiers will be strengthened to safeguard
lockdown progress. It is not yet clear exactly how restrictions could
change - but it is understood the 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants
will be altered.

[London Borough ranking]

As a community, we are immensely grateful to all of our NHS staff,
social care workers and all of our key workers that continue to keep
us safe and keep our local services going. I hope readers continue to
stay safe, socially distance and regularly check in on loved
ones. The response to Coronavirus is being directed by Government
centrally working with Public Health England, the Government’s
advice is available here
[[link removed]]. Government
assistance specifically for businesses is available here
[[link removed]] .  

As always, if you need to get in touch about the issues covered here
– or anything else – please contact my office on 0207 219
4243 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Please bear
with us, as we have received over 5 times our usual weekly amount of
correspondence. My team and I are working hard to respond as promptly
as possible. Although we have had to cancel face to face surgery
appointments, we are now scheduling regular Zoom surgeries and phone
calls with Harrow West constituents. 

[lockdown 2]

HARROW COUNCIL

[Keep Harrow Safe]

The council has a webpage covering their own response to the
coronavirus pandemic, this is regularly being updated and is
available here.  
[[link removed]]

BOOK A FREE TEST ONLINE
[[link removed]] OR
CALL 119

😷 GETTING TESTED AT A LOCAL TESTING CENTRE: 🧪

·       SOUTH HARROW walk-through testing centre at Brigade
Close Car Park, HA2 0LQ (opposite South Harrow Police Station) - open
daily 8am to 8pm. No parking available at this site.

·       Mobile Testing Unit, HARROW CIVIC CENTRE - Car Park
‘A’, Milton Road, 10:30 – 15:30

·       Mobile testing site (cars only) on selected days,
10.30am to 3.30pm at NORTHWICK PARK HOSPITAL (Rear car park).

TESTS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE. ONLY BOOK A TEST IF YOU HAVE
SYMPTOMS.

LOCAL RESTRICTIONS SUPPORT GRANTS

Support grants and funding for businesses affected by the national
coronavirus restrictions are currently being released through Harrow
Council. Details on eligibility and application for the four grant
schemes are  available through the Harrow Council website.
[[link removed]]

THE FOUR GRANT SCHEMES AVAILABLE ARE:

·       Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open)
[[link removed]]
 - for businesses subject to restrictions due to Harrow being placed
in Local COVID Alert Level: High (Tier 2) from 17th October 2020 until
4th November 2020.

·       Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) also known
as “National Lockdown Grant”
[[link removed]]
 - for businesses required to close due to national lockdown
restrictions from 5th November 2020 until 2nd December 2020.

·       Sector Specific Grant
[[link removed]]
 - applies specifically to nightclubs, dance halls, discos, sexual
entertainment venues and hostess bars which have been required to
close since 23rd March 2020.

·       Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) 
[[link removed]]- a
discretionary scheme to be established by each Local Authority. It is
anticipated that this scheme will be launched mid-December to provide
support to a range of businesses such as sectors where the business
may not pay Business Rates directly to the Council.

HARROW GO GREEN 2021

[HGG21]

Harrow Council is working with the newly formed Harrow Biodiversity
and Environment to deliver the HARROW GO GREEN COMPETITION,
[[link removed]]  an exciting new competition run for
Harrow residents, schools, colleges and businesses. The application
process is open from this month until the end of May 2021. Project
ideas can be submitted in the following categories, with cash prizes
available for each category:

Schools and Colleges
[[link removed]]

Best Front Space
[[link removed]]

Junior Projects
[[link removed]]

Best Garden Managed for Nature
[[link removed]]

Commercial Projects and Developers
[[link removed]]

Most Original Idea to Enhance Biodiversity
[[link removed]]

Further information about the competition can be found on the Harrow
Go Green website [[link removed]] .

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Harrow Council, Harrow CCG, and Young Harrow Foundation have put
together a joint document
[[link removed]] signposting
residents to a collection of some of the most helpful and trusted
sources of information and guidance for children and young people’s
wellbeing.

For young people (high school and college age), the
document ‘looking after ourselves’ can be found here
[[link removed]] – covering
how to stay healthy, stay connected and learn new skills during this
time.

SUPPORT AND ONLINE RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY

Harrow Council have collected a range of online resources
[[link removed]]
 for all members of the family to keep entertained while libraries
are closed. You will be able to find resource to help with homework,
eBooks, newspapers and magazines and keeping yourself healthy and
motivated.

Counselling services and mental health support

·       Relate Family Mediation 
[[link removed]] - a
service fully geared up to supporting families through the crisis.
Tel: 0300 0032324 or email [email protected].

·       DAWN [[link removed]]  - provide
a counselling service to the local community of Harrow and its
neighbouring boroughs. Tel: 020 8427 6796 or
email: [email protected]

·       Need To Talk [[link removed]]  - offering
1 to 1 counselling supporting their clients or any client by telephone
or webcam. Tel: call/ text on 07427548559 or
email [email protected]

·       Ignite Trust 
[[link removed]]  - During these challenging
and uncertain times, Ignite Trust is working hard to ensure they
continue to provide support to the boroughs most vulnerable and
at-risk young people. Email [email protected].

·        [[link removed]] Every
Mind Matters [[link removed]] - Expert
advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health
and wellbeing.

CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

The council continues to operate a hotline telephone number during
weekends in order to provide support to those in need of assistance in
Harrow - if you are in need of support due to Covid please give the
hotline a call - 0208 901 2698

CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

[Road Meeting]

Just before lockdown two, I held a road meeting with PS Miller and
residents of Sussex Road following a rise in anti-social behaviour,
car theft and catalytic converter theft in the area. I am looking into
more road meetings with local police teams after lockdown, so please
get in touch if you would like one on your road.

PS Miller informed residents that an uptick in crimes tend to follow
the periods of lockdown, with a noticeable rise in burglaries and
organised crime taking place. Over the past month, the Headstone South
team has increased patrols in the area, adjusting their patrolling
into the early hours of the morning. As catalytic converter theft has
become a big issue nationwide, PC Miller recommends the use of motion
sensitive lights and doorbell cameras to help capture criminals.
Catalytic converter theft is most common with Toyota Yaris or Auris
car models, for which a purchase of a manufacturer’s retaining
device is also recommended.

I am informed the process for identifying and arresting criminals more
generally can take up to six-months, PS Miller welcomes any footage or
images that may be captured as all evidence can be utilised –
‘Ring’ doorbell footage, for example, is consistently used and
such clips will remain within the Met police database. 

The Safer Neighbourhoods Team encourages local residents to register
on OWL.CO.UK [/www.owl.co.uk]  in order to receive and respond to
tailored crime alerts down to the postcode level.

FINDING SUPPORT

FRESH HORIZONS HOMELESS SUPPORT

The Fresh Horizons CND charity based in Wembley has supported
accommodation available for the single homeless in Harrow during the
ongoing coronavirus restrictions. If you or someone you know is in
need of supported accommodation, Fresh Horizons can be contacted by
telephone at 0300 321 4702 or via email at [email protected]

 

DO YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT MAKES YOU VULNERABLE? PLEASE
REGISTER. 

A reminder, if you think you fall into a category that makes you
vulnerable to coronavirus – register with the Government here
[[link removed]]. For example,
you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential
supplies like food. The council has just started to receive this
information and are working with local organisations to provide
support to those who apply.  

 

If you’re not sure whether your medical condition makes you
extremely vulnerable, register anyway. This service is free. You can
register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.  
[[link removed]]

 

HARROW MENCAP

[Harrow Mencap]

The Positive Steps Outreach project from the excellent team at Harrow
Mencap is all about supporting adults with learning disabilities and
their carers to stay healthy, happy and socially engaged. Every week
the group will gather together online to do fun activities, connect
socially and learn new ways to stay safe and healthy. 

Harrow Mencap will also run a separate session just for families and
carers to come together and support one another as well as a weekly
help hour for signposting, information and advice support. Support
will be available to help users with Zoom, the digital platform that
Harrow Mencap run their sessions on. 

FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION BY CONTACTING HANNAH ON THE CONTACT DETAILS
ABOVE AND TRY AN INTRODUCTORY SESSION ON THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER AT
2PM. 

CAN YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT?

[LCK]

London's Community Kitchen (based at The Bridge, next to Harrow
Leisure Centre) continue to put Harrow on the map. At the height of
the pandemic, this incredible operation served over 10,000 people
across Harrow and London and they are continuing to serve over 5,000
people per week. The Community Kitchen is working with Harrow Council
and many other community groups to coordinate a Harrow wide response
to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please consider donating or getting
involved in any way that you
can: [link removed]
[[link removed]]

If you’re ever in need of their support, the Community Kitchen want
to help - they wont ask you for any details, or anything in return,
just turn up and they will provide you with food. If you would like to
get involved with the Community Kitchen - register
here: [link removed]
[[link removed] ]  
[[link removed] ]and if you
can donate anything, they will make a little go a very long
way: [link removed]
[[link removed]]

HELP FROM ME

[GT Zoom Surgeries]

I appreciate that whilst this outbreak of Covid-19 is currently
dominating a lot of our thoughts, other concerns and problems do not
disappear. However, to help reduce the spread of infection, I am
asking members of the public who need to contact my office to do so by
phone or email rather than in person and further, I will continue to
hold surgery appointments exclusively by telephone and Zoom video
conferencing. This is a temporary measure and a sensible precaution to
protect vulnerable people.  Please be assured we continue to offer a
full service of advice and support to members of the public who need
it. 

As always, my office can be contacted
on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 219 4243
(Monday-Friday).

STAY SAFE

Best wishes,

GARETH

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Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Keith Ferry on behalf
of Gareth Thomas, both at 132-134 Blenheim Road, Harrow, HA2 7AA
Website: www.labour.org.uk to join or renew call 0345 092 2299.

                                             
             

The Labour Party, 105 Victoria St Westminster, London, SW1E 6QT, United Kingdom
[link removed]