Plan ahead – get to Frizlands tip one hour before closing time Frizlands Lane tip and our neighbouring tips reopened last month and following Government guidelines you should only visit the tips if your visit is essential. Please also arrive at least one hour before closing times to avoid being turned away. You can get more information including opening times here. Remember if you need to get rid of old kitchen appliances, you can have them taken away for FREE as part of our pilot white goods collection service with AO – book your collection here. And you can also still book a bulky waste collection from your home if you have large, unwanted items, which you need to dispose of. This service will save you the time and the hassle of having to visit the tip.

We’re continuing to monitor the situation as it develops and will keep you posted about what this means for any council facilities affected by the changes.

Plans to ease guidance for those shielding Earlier this week, the government announced that the guidance for people ‘shielding’ from coronavirus will be relaxed again in two stages in July and August. Shielding is for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable. We know that there are lots of people who are at higher risk if they catch the virus, but the national shielding service is only for the most at risk. There are just over 8,000 people in our borough in that category.   From 6 July, people who are shielding will be able to spend time outdoors in a group of up to six people, including those outside of their household, while maintaining social distancing. People shielding who live alone or are single parents with children will also be able to create a ‘support bubble’ with one other household of any size, following the same rules already in place for the wider population. The big change will come on Saturday 1 August, when the guidance will be further relaxed so that clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer be advised to shield. They will continue to have access to priority supermarket delivery slots – but they should have registered online for them before 17 July. NHS Volunteer Responders will also continue to offer support to those who need it, including collecting and delivering food and medicines. The boxes delivered by the National Shielding Service will stop as of 1 August as individuals are advised they can visit shops and pharmacies. Letters are being sent from the government directly to people who are shielding, giving more information. The letters advise that the Council can assist shielders with the next steps, and we are working now on what support we can put in place to help people through the transition – if you are affected, and especially if you are taking a Government food delivery, we’ll be in touch soon. The latest information from the government can be found here.

East London hospitals are winning the battle against coronavirus Life still might not be back to normal but there is some hope….. we’re seeing a lot less cases and deaths across the country and it’s no different in East London. As of this week our local hospitals now have five Covid wards, down from a peak of 20 wards. More than 1,500 people, who either had confirmed or suspected coronavirus, have now returned home, with 260 of these patients having recovered following a spell in intensive care. As always, a massive thank you needs to go to all of the wonderful staff behind these success stories ❤️

FACE MASKS ON UK PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Wear face coverings on public transport  From next Monday 15 June, you must wear a face covering while using public transport. You should still be avoiding public transport where possible. If you do need to make an essential journey using public transport, please plan in advance and, if possible, try and travel at off peak times. A face covering is not the same as a personal protection facemask (PPE) used by healthcare and frontline workers, but it can help stop the spread of the virus. Click here to find out how to make your own face covering. The government is also now advising people to wear a face covering in places where social distancing is not always possible, such as shops.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSLETTER | 11 June 2020 Black Lives Matters: we stand together Last week, we illuminated Barking Town Hall in purple light to show our solidarity with everyone that has been shocked by George Floyd’s death, and many others who have sadly lost their lives simply because of the colour of their skin. This week, hundreds of people, including many young people, peacefully protested in our borough in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. We reached out to the organisers to help facilitate a safe space outside Barking Town Hall, and provided sound equipment, so their strong, passionate and important messages could be heard loud and clear. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, Cllr Saima Ashraf, also attended, and said a few words on the steps of the Town Hall. In Barking and Dagenham, we stand against racism and with those who face prejudice on a daily basis. There is absolutely no place for it in our borough, or world. We know there is a lot of work yet to be done and understand this is a frustrating and upsetting time for many, especially our residents from black and ethnic minority communities. We value all members of our community, and that is why it's so important for us to show our support for Black Lives Matters.  One year anniversary of Samuel Garside House fire    A year ago, on 9 June 2019, a fire spread across the wooden balconies of Samuel Garside House, destroying homes and forcing people to run to safety. Luckily, no one was injured but it changed residents’ lives forever. The block is made up of privately-owned, part-leased and housing association flats, meaning residents had to deal with lots of organisations in the aftermath of the fire, as they tried to get back to some sense of normality. Earlier this year we set up a review to learn the lessons from this and to lobby government for greater powers so that we and other councils can act on behalf of residents when we are needed and when a block isn’t council owned. The review will be published later this year. If you want to contribute to it, please email barkingfirereview@lbbd.gov.uk for more info before Monday 22 June. Council thanks carers during Carers Week  This week is national Carers Week and this year, more than ever, it is important that we recognise the great work all our carers, young and old, do for other people. During the pandemic many carers have taken on extra responsibilities, such as caring for relatives, friends and other people in the community who need support. However, it’s really important that we don’t forget about the carers themselves and offer them support with any difficulties they may be facing. Carers are 10% more at risk of feeling lonely and isolated and it’s especially important that we support ‘Hidden Carers’ who don’t identify themselves as carers and are not accessing support from any service. We normally mark Carers Week with several activities, delivered by Carers of Barking and Dagenham in partnership with the council, but this year we’re having to do things a bit differently. Throughout the week we’ve been hosting a range of online sessions for carers to take part in, including chats, quizzes and even a disco for our young carers. To take part in the rest of the activities please call 020 8593 4422 or email carers@carerscentre.org.uk.

AYOUB  MZEE  with  the  Ghana  High  Commissioner  in  uk  Ambassador Kwaku  Danso   Boafo

The United States Commends the People of Burundi on the Presidential Elections of May 20

06/05/2020 09:05 PM EDT

Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson
The United States acknowledges the Burundian Constitutional Court’s certification of Evariste Ndayishimiye as the next President of Burundi. We encourage the new government to include a broad representation of political stakeholders. As steadfast supporters of democracy, we call on the government to address reports of electoral fraud and investigate and pursue accountability for all allegations of voter intimidation before, during, and after the elections. We also urge the release of any authorized party representatives and other election observers who were unjustly detained or arrested for engaging in election observation activities, including possessing voting information after polling stations closed, to promote electoral transparency. A swift resolution, in accordance with existing laws and procedures, will help reassure the Burundian people of the new government’s commitment to strengthen respect for the rule of law and allow all its citizens to participate fully and equally in the electoral process.
The United States salutes the people of Burundi for their resolve for a peaceful ‎transfer of power. We also recognize outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza’s commitment to a peaceful transition. Should it occur, this will be a historic moment for the people of Burundi, as it will represent the first time in Burundi’s modern history that a government came into power peacefully and also peacefully transitioned to a new president-elect. The United States looks forward to working with President-elect Ndayishimiye and the new government to strengthen the rule of law and democratic institutions, improve citizen-responsive governance, promote prosperity, and safeguard regional and global security