London Borough of Redbridge

At the Full Council meeting on Thursday 25 July, Cllr Kam Rai was elected as the new Leader of Redbridge Council. Cllr Kam Rai has a long running history with Redbridge as he has not only served the community for 10 years as a cabinet member, but he also grew up here and raised his three children locally while working in financial services and supporting a local homelessness charity. Since 2014, Cllr Rai has served the borough as Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration and a councillor in Goodmayes ward. Cllr Rai spent six years as Deputy Leader and also led on the Leisure and Culture portfolio between 2020 and 2023, before transitioning to the role of overseeing Regeneration in 2023. During his tenure, Cllr Rai played a key role in the successful delivery of the £7 million Hainault Forest regeneration project, which included the addition of a new playground, café, and craft workshops to the park, as well as committing to the expansion of Fairlop Waters Country Park. Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council said, “I feel so fortunate to represent the place I call home, where we have outstanding schools, safe neighbourhoods, and wonderful parks. Redbridge is a special place, with close-knit and welcoming communities, busy high streets, beautiful green spaces and lots to do - we really have everything we need right on our doorstep, with more on the way. Since becoming a councillor in 2014 I have seen first-hand the challenges facing local councils across the country, with rising demand for services, and government funding cuts. In Redbridge we have always risen to the challenge of protecting the vital services local people rely on and innovating to deliver more with less. As the finance lead for the Council, I’ve set a balanced budget every year and as Leader I want to build on this legacy – making sure our borough gets the best value for money. The role of councillors is to bring our communities together, to represent everyone fairly and be the voice for those who have none. As the Leader of Redbridge Council I will always work tirelessly to improve the place we live in and to leave no one behind. There are challenges ahead of us, but I know that by working together, and with local people, by taking responsibility for our borough and encouraging others to do the same, we can make Redbridge cleaner, greener and safer." Cllr Rai continued “We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us in Redbridge. We already know our borough is a great place to live, work, and visit, but there is work to be done to make sure local people can build a good life here. I will work closely with you all, local residents, and our partners in the Police, the Greater London Authority and Government to bring in investment and ensure Redbridge gets our fair share of resources." Cllr Rai takes over from Cllr Athwal, who served Redbridge as Council Leader for over a decade before stepping down following his election as the Member of Parliament for Ilford South.

Out of 152 local authorities in England, Redbridge Council are one of three who have achieved an ‘Outstanding’ grade across every criterion within the Ofsted Inspecting Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) inspection framework 🎊 The evaluation criteria are: - Overall effectiveness - The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection - The experiences and progress of children in care - The experiences and progress of care leavers - The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families Since the last inspection in 2019, several supportive innovations have been introduced by the Children & Families department to achieve this outcome, including: Reach Out service is the Council’s in-house front door domestic abuse service which provides support to survivors and their children. Family Intervention Team work with children, young people and their families to tackle issues such as child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and missing children. Care Leaver Covenant collaborates with care leavers to identify and deliver support such as arranging employment opportunities, housing, and driving lessons. The pathway plans are detailed, personalised, and ambitious to support care leavers in achieving their goals. Youth Intelligence Hub holds weekly meetings with partners to plan responses to emerging issues, such as gang activity and child trafficking concerns. Pre-Birth social workers undertake pre-birth assessments of first-time mothers, mothers who have previously had children removed from their care, pregnant children looked after, and pregnant care leavers. The report also found that: - Children in care receive excellent care and support - Social workers visit children regularly and have meaningful and stable relationships with them. - Agencies and specialist teams collaborate to make sure they understand and reduce the risks of children being exploited. Adrian Loades, Interim Chief Executive and Corporate Director of People said “Our Children’s Services have worked incredibly hard to make even further improvements to enhance the wellbeing and development of children and young people in need of support and protection. Achieving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in all areas reflects the high standards and quality of care Redbridge Council provides, which I am so proud of.” Congratulations to the service! Read the full report - https://lnkd.in/gaCsv6ZA

Congratulations to Elaine Alexander, our Home Care Worker who was crowned our May Star of the Month winner! ⭐🏆 Elaine was nominated by colleague, Abdelilah Bouziane, for her brave and swift intervention which saved the life of a colleague. Abdelilah said "Elaine saved the life of another Agency Home Care Worker, H. H went into the garden for some fresh air when she experienced some health issues. She was unable to communicate and her eyes were closing. Elaine, along with another resident who was in the garden, lowered her to the ground and discovered she was not responding. Elaine called 999 and initiated CPR as per advice given. After several chest compressions, H started to respond and Elaine had put her in the recovery position. The ambulance and a fast response team were on the scene very quickly and praised Elaine for her action. H was taken to King George’s Hospital and was discharged in early morning. Elaine, who resumed her duties the following day, deserves recognition for her quick thinking and decisive intervention which saved a life." Our Star of the Month scheme shines a light on colleagues who go above & beyond. Congratulations Elian and well done to everyone who was nominated.

Mercato Ilford, the first sustainable community food market in East London, opened its doors last Thursday 11 July. Located in the Cultural Quarter in Ilford Town Centre, Mercato Ilford is open seven days a week and provides a diverse range of delicious global cuisines and a community space offering cooking classes, live performances, health and fitness classes, and more. The 17 trading partners, whose produce have been farmed sustainably and offer halal options, include Ethiopian, Jamaican, Mexican, Indian, and Turkish food. They all offer a lunchtime £5 meal deal from Monday to Friday making it an affordable choice so say goodbye to your generic meal deals. There’s also a couple of bars to enjoy a drink after work, and dessert for those of you with a sweet tooth, so there is something for everyone. The venue plays an important role in the Council’s Spark Ilford regeneration project to make Ilford’s Cultural Quarter a key cultural destination through its food, art, and entertainment. Spark Ilford is the latest step in the Council’s ‘Ilford for all’ manifesto which aims to transform Ilford and attract more visitors by opening more businesses, boost nightlife, and celebrate diversity and culture. Mercato Ilford has already created 100 new jobs and which will help to drive footfall and contribute significantly to the borough’s local economy. The Council secured a £1.8 million grant from the London Economic Action Partnership and Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund. The Good Growth Fund is a public fund from Greater London Authority dedicated to urban regeneration projects.   Mark Baigent, our Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture, said, "The opening of Mercato Ilford is a shining example of regeneration, helping to create employment for local people, bringing in new opportunities for local traders, and encouraging visitors into our town centre. It will give our communities somewhere to come together and enjoy some of the best and most diverse artisan food from local traders, with music and regular entertainment." If you’re a foodie, Mercato Ilford is the place to be! Visit Mercato on: ·      Monday – Thursday, 12pm to 11pm ·      Friday – Saturday, 12pm to midnight ·      Sunday, 12pm to 9.30pm Mercato’s coffee shops and Badiani ice-cream stores are open: ·      Monday – Friday, from 8am ·      Saturday – Sunday, from 9am Visit the Mercato Ilford website to find out more: https://lnkd.in/exWE4vHh #mercato #eastlondon #sustainable

Redbridge Council were shortlisted as finalists in the prestigious The Municipal Journal (MJ) awards for the Community Engagement category and the Delivering Better Outcomes category. The Public Health team’s project ‘Partnership led health engagement with underserved communities in Redbridge’ has seen Redbridge Council take a localised and sustainable approach to health engagement while working with our communities. Despite budget cuts, Redbridge has partnered with local charities and NHS organisations to develop two wellbeing cafes in our most deprived neighbourhoods (Loxford and Hainault) and a community kitchen for asylum seekers and refugees placed in our borough. The cafes support with tackling social isolation and provide health and wellbeing activities and clinical services, e.g., vaccination clinics, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, and advice. It also provides regular access to local and third sector services centred around the cost of living crisis. The Perfect Mix community kitchen, organised by our Public Health team and supported by local charity Serving Humanity, is a free weekly community cooking and socialising initiative connecting refugees and asylum seekers with residents through cooking. The cafes and kitchen are a safe space which have improved the lives of local people by building a trusted community network and provide direct health interventions to tackle wider determinants of health such as social, economic and environmental factors. Last week, the Loxford Community Café also received the Gold Standard in the ‘Creating Better Futures’ community category at the InfraRed Capital Partners Ltd awards. Gladys Xavier, Director of Public Health, said, “Our team’s collaborative efforts with the NHS and local and wider organisations to establish two thriving wellbeing cafes and the community kitchen has been outstanding. These initiatives not only promote physical and mental wellbeing but also foster a sense of community and support to those in need. I am proud that our work is being recognised through the MJ awards.” Re-launched in 2023, Redbridge’s Reach Out Service, our in-house front door domestic abuse service, provides comprehensive support to survivors, children, and perpetrators. Reach Out not only enhances safety for survivors and children but also addresses broader outcomes such as financial stability, housing, and health. The service’s innovative use of virtual reality for behaviour change and has drawn interest from other local authorities. Emma Pattison, Head of Service for Domestic Abuse, said, “Reach Out was transformed in September 2024 following a public consultation. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time. The judging panel gave us positive feedback, and shared that they would be taking our ideas back to their own local authorities.” Congratulations to both teams on the well-deserved recognition.

Last week, Redbridge Council's Planning Committee approved our plans to deliver a new lido in Valentines Park - the first in London for decades! Construction is expected to begin later this year, and the facility is projected to be open to the public by autumn 2025, providing people from near and far with a new leisure facility to enjoy for years to come. The brand-new facility will be close to Valentines Park's original outdoor pool, which people across East London and Essex enjoyed from 1923 to 1995. The new lido will provide a sustainable, fun, and social place for people to exercise outdoors while boosting the local economy and restoring the heritage of Valentines Park. The new lido will include a number of facilities including, a 25-metre six-lane swimming pool, children's splash pad, dance/exercise studio, gym, café, outdoor recreation/picnic area, meeting room, car parking, and changing facilities. The lido is a testament to the Council's commitment to sustainability, utilising the latest technology, including solar panels for energy generation, air-source heat pumps, water recycling systems, and energy-efficient lighting. These features will ensure sustainability and contribute to cost-efficiency, making the Lido a responsible and economically viable project. Mark Baigent, Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture, said: "The old lido in Valentines Park holds a special place in the hearts of local people. It is where families enjoyed idyllic summer days right on their doorsteps and it is so exciting that after nearly 30 years, a brand-new lido and more will be introduced in the park for people to visit and create new special memories. As a council, we will continue to invest in leisure facilities so local people and visitors can access everything they need right on our doorstep." Valentines Park is one of nine parks in the borough that received the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2023. Check out BBC News coverage - https://lnkd.in/eXZvRQnm

Last week, 34 new, fast, on-street Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers were installed across Redbridge in an innovative partnership project with Uber and Believ, helping to further boost our borough’s EV network and support greener travel. Following the first leg of the project, the 34 22kw dual chargers allow two vehicles to be charged simultaneously at the same location, providing 68 charge points in total. The locations were identified based on demand from local people. The project is part of the borough’s bid to support local people to adopt more sustainable and greener travel choices, including making the switch from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles. By the end of 2024, a total of 174 new chargers will have been rolled out to 87 locations around the borough, helping add to the borough’s existing network of charge points. The fast chargers are being fully funded through Uber and Believ, who were awarded the contract to install, operate, and maintain the fast chargers. Transport was identified as one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in Redbridge, making it one of the council’s key areas for action in tackling climate change and creating a cleaner and greener Redbridge for local people. Dhiresh Bhatt FIHE, our Head of Highways & Transportation, said, “Our partnership with Uber and Believ has enabled us to support local people with making greener travel choices. The increase in EV chargers improves the accessibility and opportunity for local drivers to switch to an electric vehicle which will lower the carbon footprint of transport, cut pollution, and help tackle climate change.” The increased number of EV charging points in Redbridge also gives local people who do not have the ability to charge on a driveway the confidence to make the switch to electric, knowing they can easily charge an EV using the growing number of public charging points available across Redbridge. Andrew Brem, General Manager of Uber UK, said, “We are delighted to work with Redbridge Council on this vital project to boost EV infrastructure. Getting these chargers in the ground is a huge milestone with drivers often telling me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an EV.” Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO said, "This project is an excellent example of public and private sectors working together to install EV charging infrastructure that delivers on a community's need, without burdening the public purse. The new installations will significantly improve Redbridge's residents' access to EV charging - helping more drivers make the switch." For more information on using the new EV fast charge points go to: https://lnkd.in/gN6s9__C   Mario Lecordier Hulya Ataoglu #greener #sustainable #ev #project #partnership

Our Star of the Month scheme shines a light on colleagues who go above & beyond, and we're delighted to share Vanya Djumerska, our Training & Implementation Lead, has won this month's winner ⭐🏆 Line Manager, Emma Pattison, nominated Vanya for collaborating with internal services and external agencies to ensure the protection of a resident, escalating issues relating to women’s safety, and delivering whole council training. Emma said, “Vanya has been delivering a training programme across asylum-seeker hotels to raise awareness of domestic abuse amongst staff and residents. One of the clients she met disclosed a sexual assault she experienced while living at the hotel. Vanya, in partnership with our Public Health team and other agencies, helped to get the client moved as a safety measure. The new address was compromised so Vanya worked collaboratively with partners to get the client relocated again. She is now settled in a new area, and Vanya is in the process of connecting her to relevant support in the area. Vanya has gone above and beyond to do this, as casework is not part of her role. In addition, while working at a hotel, she uncovered the sexual exploitation of multiple women living in the accommodation. Vanya is still pursuing this issue to ensure the safety of women moving forward. This has also been escalated to our Interim Chief Executive to raise with the Home Office. Since Vanya joined Redbridge in September 2023, her commitment to helping our residents and dedication to wider council priorities has been clear. She has had an active role in the Women’s Network, delivering training on bespoke topics like the links between domestic abuse and menopause. She arranged a fantastic itinerary of well-attended events for the 16 Days of Activism in November, and International Women’s Day in March. She’s also led on the development of whole council training and is exploring commercial opportunities to generate income from her training programmes. This weekend, she will be delivering training at an event held by the Menopause Action Group. She never shies away from picking up additional tasks if they will make a difference to our community. No job is too big or too small for Vanya, and she is an absolute joy to work with.” James Bachmann, Head of Public Health and Wellbeing, shared, “I wanted to say a big thanks for all the support Vanya has been giving Helen, our Project Manager for Asylum Seekers and Displaced people. Helen had mentioned how helpful and knowledgeable she had been but I hadn’t met Vanya until recently when she joined us for a call. It was great to have her input and it was clear how passionate she is about her work which is really great to see.” Congratulations Vanya! & well done to everyone who was nominated.

Foster Care Fortnight began this Monday, 13 May and raises awareness of fostering. This year is particularly special for Redbridge Council as it also marks the launch of The Local Community Fostering Service, in which we’ve partnered with five regional local authorities to recruit more foster carers.   The Local Community Fostering Service is a pilot scheme from the Department of Education (DfE) and is being delivered by Redbridge, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, London Borough of Havering, London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and London Borough of Waltham Forest councils. The collaboration highlights successful partnership working and our involvement in innovative practices.   The new service aims to increase the numbers of foster carers, ensuring that more children who need to stay in care remain local to their friends, families, schools, and extra-curricular activities, which is extremely important for a child’s stability.   Kalvinder Kaur, Team Manager from the Redbridge Fostering Service said, “There has never been a greater need to recruit foster carers to support our children and to offer them a safe and stable family life for them to thrive. We look forward to working in partnership with other local Councils in this DfE pilot scheme and I trust that together, we can achieve this goal.”   A launch event is taking place on Saturday 25 May between 9.30am to 2pm. There will be a three-mile foster care walk through the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, music, fun activities, and light refreshments. If you’d like to join in on the fun, please book a ticket through Eventbrite https://lnkd.in/eHBpkgQ9   Gemma Seabrook, Recruitment, Engagement and Development Officer, for our Fostering Service said, “This is such an exciting time for the Redbridge Fostering Team. Joining forces with another five local Councils and forming the ‘Local Community Fostering Service’ with the aim to recruit more foster carers for the Greater London East area will have such a positive impact on the lives of so many children who need to spend time in foster care.”   #fosteringmoments #newservice #launch #fostercarefortnight John Anthony Gloria Samuel