Leader of the Council says thank you as nearly 90% of eligible residents are vaccinated
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Leader of Kingston Council, Caroline Kerr has thanked NHS staff and volunteers for the extremely high take up of the COVID-19 vaccination by eligible Kingston residents. Booking a slot for a vaccination has now been simplified for all those aged 65 and over, people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and frontline health and social care workers - who are now able to book an appointment directly on the NHS website. If you fall within these groups, you can book without having to register with a GP beforehand or provide an NHS number. For more information please visit the Council website.
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1.7 million people added to shielding list and prioritised for vaccination
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The government has announced that a further 1.7 million people across England will be advised to shield as they have been identified as being at a greater risk from COVID-19. Everyone within this group who has not already received their COVID-19 vaccination will now be prioritised.
If you are one of those affected, you will be sent a letter from NHS England in the coming days. It will explain why you may be at increased risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19. It will also confirm that you are now included within the support and advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable.
Across the borough, everyone who is advised to shield can access support, food and medicine deliveries, as well as befriending services, through the Kingston Stronger Together Hub.
Read more about how the new list was compiled on the gov.uk website
Find out more about the Shielded Patients List on the NHS website
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Have your say on equality issues
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Equality issues affect all of us. We are committed to ensuring our services are accessible to all, promoting a borough that is inclusive and fair, and to being representative of our communities.
Have your say on our upcoming equalities strategy here:
www.kingstonletstalk.co.uk/equalities
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Kingston town centre invests in happy spaces
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Kingston First and Kingston Council are leading on a new initiative to create inclusive happy spaces within the town centre. These spaces will give local residents, visitors and the business community the chance to unwind, enjoy and connect with nature.
Kingston based landscape architects Davies White Ltd and The Edible Bus Stop design studio have been appointed to lead on the engagement and design to transform Eagle Brewery Wharf on Kingston’s riverside, and Memorial Gardens in the centre of the town, into green spaces that improve the pedestrian flow around the town, encourage wellbeing, create a space for social and cultural activities and recognise their historical significance.
Read more on the Kingston First website.
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Kingston Race and Equalities Council:
Let's get Kingston Vaccinated
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On Thursday 4 March we will be discussing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) residents' concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a panel discussion with Kingston's communities. Also joining the discussion will be:
- Iona Lidington, Director of Public Health
- Naz Jivani, GP and CCG Lead
- Ruth Pombi, Theatre Manager at Kingston Hospital
In partnership with Kingston Race and Equalities Council, we will be talking about the importance of vaccination within our communities to keep everyone safe.
If you have a question, share it with us via our Google Form.
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Putting libraries at the heart of Kingston communities
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The second phase of Reimagining Kingston Libraries - a transformational review which aims to place libraries at the heart of the community and bring council services closer to residents - begins after approval at committee on 11 February.
Read more on our website.
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46 local businesses in Kingston nominated for national Love Local Day
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Our local e-commerce partners ShopAppy.com recently ran their #LoveLocalDay which encouraged people to get out and shop local, reinforcing the importance of local businesses. We’re working with ShopAppy to provide funded access to their platform for a year, helping all types of businesses to easily sell online and build connections with their local communities. As part of this, local communities were asked to vote for their most loved local businesses. We had 46 nominations - a fantastic accolade for our community - so we would like to congratulate them for being a much loved business to visit in Kingston.
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Invest in solar panels with Solar Together
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Do you want to save on your energy bill and generate your own clean electricity? Having your own solar panels can help reduce your energy bill and power your home with clean energy.
We are working in partnership with the Mayor of London to make the transition to clean energy as cost effective and hassle-free as possible for residents and small businesses. Find out more at www.solartogether.co.uk/kingston.
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Make sure you are eligible to vote in upcoming elections
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The Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections are scheduled for Thursday 6 May, even with the likely chance of us still being under some level of COVID-19 restrictions.
Residents need to make sure they are eligible to vote in these elections - for more information visit
kingston.gov.uk/elections.
Additionally, if you would like to register to vote by post, you can do so by visiting kingston.gov.uk/postal-voting.
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Council to fly rainbow flag for LGBT+ History Month
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Kingston Council will fly the rainbow flag from the Guildhall on 26 February to mark LGBT+ History Month.
The Council first flew the flag from the Guildhall in 2019 in celebration of Pride month, which was repeated in 2020.
The Kingston LGBT Forum also has some great events throughout LGBT+ History Month, which you can find out more about on their website.
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From issuing warrants to anti-social behaviour warnings, the policing neighbourhood teams have been busy tackling local issues and crime. You can find out more about what your local police teams have been doing in January on Facebook.
To contact your local team visit: www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/
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Look Closer to spot and report signs of exploitation
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Exploited young people don't always look and act vulnerable. Look closer and if something doesn't feel right, it may not be. For each child or young person who is being exploited, there may be members of the public and staff working in places like supermarkets and transport hubs, who are in a position to spot and protect them.
For information on spotting the signs of exploitation and how to help protect children visit The Children's Society website to find out about their #LookCloser campaign or to share your concerns call 020 8547 5008.
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Kingston Listens - free online sessions
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Heathwatch Kingston are hosting seven listening sessions starting on Thursday 18 February. They want to hear your experiences of mental health during the pandemic.
The small (8-10 people) facilitated sessions are confidential and simple, and attendees will be asked to share answers to two questions:
- What is putting pressure on your wellbeing and the people you care about?
- What has or could have made this experience better for you and those you care about?
All sessions are free but you must book below in order to secure your place.
Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Book your place.
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Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee Meeting - 23 February
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The next Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee meets on Tuesday 23 February at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. The agenda and reports for the meeting are available here.
The minutes of the last meeting in January have been published and can be found here.
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Learn new skills with Microsoft
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Want to learn skills for in-demand jobs? Or maybe get some tips and interactive practice to help you prepare for interviews? As part of their digital skills initiative Microsoft is offering a whole host of resources to support career development, finding a job during challenging economic times, and interview preparation, so if you want to try something new, build on existing skills or want to build confidence ahead of that interview take a look at what’s on offer here and start today. Microsoft also hosts a number of virtual webinars on a variety of topics. See what’s on offer here and register your place.
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Get help and support on coronavirus (COVID-19) if you have a heart or circulatory condition. From having the vaccine to keeping yourself happy and healthy this year, the British Heart Foundation is here for you with the latest coronavirus updates.
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Mental health wellbeing courses - spaces still available
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Kingston Adult Education has a few spaces left on courses starting after February half term. Choose from a variety of courses such as Skills to Help you Manage Your Emotions and Practical Ideas for Happier Living. View all the courses here.
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'A moment to reflect' in New Malden.
Thank you to the Schneider-Kim family for sharing with us.
How do you connect with nature on your daily walk?
Tag us on Twitter or Instagram and include #KingstonNature
or alternatively you can now also share your pictures with us via Let's Talk.
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With so many cases of people across our borough having the virus without any symptoms we are urging all residents to act as if YOU have COVID-19.
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Where to find the latest information and guidance
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