Please read this important message from our local GP chair Naz Jivani about the Astra Zeneca vaccine
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People have been asking if Is safe to have the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine when some European countries paused its roll out? Dr Naz Jivani, GP Chair for Kingston at SWL CCG has clarified:
- Out of 17 million doses of COVID-19 AstraZeneca across EU, there have been 40 cases of blood clots
- This is much lower than the hundreds of cases that occur naturally in the population
- People should go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when invited to
For more information please visit the MHRA website
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Over 50? Great news - book your vaccine online now!
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More than 88% of over 60s across Kingston have now taken up their vaccine offer - and with such great progress being made here and nationally, booking is now open to anyone 50 or over.
The clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable (regardless of age, as long as over 16) are also all now able to book online.
Those working in health and social care, care home staff and residents, main carers for someone at high risk from coronavirus, those on the GP Learning Disability Register, as well as anyone in the higher age ranges remain able to book if they have not already had the vaccine. If any of the above applies to you or someone you know, we would urge you to consider taking up the vaccine now, so that no one is left behind.
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Testing and contact tracing team - how we support residents
Meet Seema and Winston, two members from our wonderful Track and Trace team. Find out about what the team does and the support offered to residents. More information available at www.kingston.gov.uk/test-trace
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Let's keep going to keep Kingston safe!
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While we have seen declining Covid infection rates across the borough for a number of weeks, recent figures have shown a small rise.
This was partly expected as rapid testing for people without symptoms is rolled out to more groups across the borough, but it highlights the importance of continuing to follow all the guidelines around HANDS, FACE and SPACE - especially in the coming weeks as restrictions begin to ease further.
We’ve made excellent progress in bringing down infection rates over recent weeks, all of your efforts have been worthwhile, and now we must keep going!
Our testing rates in Kingston are very high - which is really good news. By finding more positive cases and supporting those people to self isolate, we can all help to stop the spread of the virus.
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If you have to leave home to work or volunteer, book your rapid tests at kingston.gov.uk/rapid-testing
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If you are in a household, support or childcare bubble with a child at nursery, school or college, book your rapid tests at kingston.gov.uk/schools-testing
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Share your views about the COVID-19 vaccine in this NHS South west London survey, for your chance to win a £150 Amazon voucher!
The NHS COVID-19 vaccination survey for the under 50s closes on Tuesday 23 March.
The NHS is keen to understand the needs and views of local people aged 18-50 on the vaccines. By completing this short survey you can share your valued insight, and play your part in the success of the vaccination program across Kingston and South West London.
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Celebrating Partnerships: One Year of COVID-19
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This week we’ve been celebrating the partnerships we’ve developed and strengthened to help respond to the impacts of COVID-19, supporting local residents and businesses. Not only are we working more closely with people and partners within our communities, we’re continuing to make a real difference in the lives of people across the borough. Read some of the stories we’ve been sharing.
This comes ahead of next week’s #DayofReflection which is an opportunity to look back on everything that has happened on the anniversary of the first lockdown. As well as observing a minute’s silence at 12pm, we will also be sharing a digital Book of Reflection, asking you to share your memories and experiences of the last 12 months.
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The census is coming on Sunday 21 March 2021
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By taking part, you can help to inform decisions on services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport.
It’s important that you fill in your census questionnaire online. It’s easy to take part, but if you need a little extra help there are a wide range of support services.
There’s language support and accessible census guidance. You can also get help from census staff in the contact centre over phone, in a web chat or on social media. If you do not feel comfortable giving your details on the same census form as the rest of your household, you can request your own and answer privately.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will send you a letter in the post with an access code and instructions. You can fill your census questionnaire in online as soon as you get yours.
If your household circumstances change on Census Day, you can let the ONS know. Remember, if you, or anyone you know, needs help, there’s plenty available. For more information, visit www.census.gov.uk
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Exciting plans for playgrounds in Chessington
and Kingston Town unveiled
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During the pandemic, going outside to enjoy open spaces for fresh air, to connect with nature, to play and for exercise has been extremely important to our residents and we are committed to continuing to invest in our green spaces.
Thanks to your great input on our initial proposals, our plans are now finalised and work will begin on the following playgrounds in the coming weeks:
- Athelstan Recreation Ground playground
- RAF Chessington playground
- Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground playground
Read more and view the final designs ➡️ bit.ly/3bO8EOi
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Cllr Diane White talks about Kingston's New Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Register
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Cllr Diane White talks about Kingston’s New Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Register. The Kingston SEND Register is a list of children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability. To find out more or to join the SEND Register please visit the Achieving for Children website.
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Kingston Council to trial body worn video cameras on parking enforcement officers
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Kingston Council will equip its civil enforcement officers with body worn video cameras as part of a new four-week trial. NSL, the Council’s parking enforcement contractor, will introduce the measure on 6 April. If the trial is successful, the Council will look into making the cameras permanent. Read more
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Calling all local businesses!
Kingston Council, in partnership with Kingston Chamber of Commerce, invites all businesses in and around the borough, to join our virtual roundtables, focusing on the opportunities from the transition to a green economy.We want to help local businesses grow back from the pandemic stronger and greener. Find out more and book your place at: https://green-kingston.eventbrite.co.uk
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Kingston Council working with ShopAppy to help local businesses trade online
Kingston Council is teaming up with ShopAppy.com - the ‘One Stop Online Local shop’ - to provide borough shops and other businesses with an online profile and an easy-to-use e-commerce platform. This will enable customers to browse stock and services and purchase from multiple businesses, and arrange click and collect, all with one transaction. Read more
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Kingston Council moving towards cashless parking
From April, it will no longer be possible to pay by cash for parking in most of Kingston. Customers will be able to pay through a mobile phone using the RingGo service or by card. Blue badge parking will still be free, for up to three hours or as signposted. Read more.
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Working with residents to produce our new licensing policy
This year we must renew our licensing policy, which sets out how we regulate and licence businesses that sell or supply alcohol, provide entertainment or late-night refreshment in the borough. To create a policy that’s right for our residents, we’re encouraging them to share their thoughts with us to agree the guidelines that will shape our licensing and enforcement work for the next 5 years.
Take a look at our proposals and share your thoughts.
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Would you like to take part in two focus groups to help us learn more about the travel habits of our residents and why people choose to travel in the way that they do? To thank you for your time a £20 Kingston Pound voucher will be emailed to you after taking part in both workshops.
Kingston Council are working in partnership with London Councils to run some focus groups with Kingston residents to find out more about their travel habits. If you’d like to take part you can sign up to the first session online. Please note that spaces are limited.
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Beyond Shelves
Thanks to the Arts Council of Great Britain, Libraries Connected and BBC Arts, Kingston School of Art and Kingston Libraries presents "Beyond Shelves" - a series of interactive online events. Each event takes its inspiration from books from the BBC's One Hundred Novels that shaped the World list. The first event, which takes place on 2 April, is brought to you by Immersive Tales and is based on the graphic novel V for Vendetta. Read more and book through the Kingston Libraries Eventbrite page.
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Make our Borough's heritage more personal with
Our 100 Histories
From 21 March Kingston Heritage Service invites you to build Our 100 Histories on a new interactive digital map, Our Borough. Over the next year, we will be searching for the 100 Histories that residents and people connected to Kingston Upon Thames feel best represents the heritage of the borough.
Things you may wish to put on the map could take the form of stories, places, objects, events and people so get thinking about what you will share as part of Our 100 Histories. Read more
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Parents might have less opportunity to hear about safer sleep during the pandemic. Please see this quick video that highlights how to ensure safer sleep for all babies #SaferSleepWeek
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Boom - your local credit union
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However tempting, it’s crucial to stay away from loan sharks and high-interest lenders. Boom is our local not-for-profit credit union and can help if you need access to fair and affordable loans, savings accounts and prepaid debit cards. Find out more. https://www.boomcu.com/
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Garden waste? Leaf it with us...
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The garden waste recycling service is more popular than ever - thousands of households enjoy the benefits of having their grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, plants and weeds collected for recycling every two weeks. With warm weather around the corner and more of us spending time in the garden, it’s a perfect opportunity to subscribe to the service. Find out more on our website.
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Health and Wellbeing survey
South West London and St George’s Mental Health (SWLSTG) has launched a new survey as part of the South London Listens campaign.
The survey, which closes at the end of March, asks residents to have their say about how COVID-19 has affected their health and wellbeing.
Take the survey.
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Health tip of the week: take a quick quiz to test your drinking habits
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Do you know how many units of alcohol you drink in a week? Has your drinking crept up during lockdown? Take this quick quiz to check your drinking, and find out more about safer drinking guidelines on the Kingston e-drink website.
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A winter’s sunset captured in Surbiton.
Thank you Umangi de Mel for sharing with us.
How do you connect with nature on your daily walk?
Tag us on Twitter or Instagram and include #KingstonNature
or share your pictures with us via Let's Talk.
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Where to find the latest information and guidance
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