Good morning everybody,
I hope you are well and taking it easy in this frenetic part of the year, as we all hurry to get stuff finished this side of the festive season as we countdown to Christmas!
Here in Newham, I know that our minds will be turning to how all of us can give back through volunteering - say at a food shelter - or through fund-raising for great causes.
One great cause we’ve launched at the Council is our Children in Care Christmas appeal 2023 because we want all our youngsters in care to know that we value them and that their brilliant!
If you can donate presents, please get in touch with our coordinator Karla Green. The kind of donations we are looking for include new toys, books, stationery, educational games or puzzles; even prepaid high street gift cards or vouchers will be welcome.
Talking about great causes, this week I signed up to the Mayor of London’s Charter to End Rough Sleeping in the capital as we continue our campaign to end rough sleeping in Newham. With dedication and purpose we are getting there as we are seeing a real difference in the scale of rough sleeping in Newham.
How do I know? Well, each year at the Council we undertake what are called regular ‘street counts’. This involves groups of volunteers going out across the length and breadth of Newham on a particular night to provide us a snapshot of the number of rough sleepers in Newham. Street counts are a really effective tool in helping us understand the scale of the rough sleeping challenge in our borough, monitor progress over time and where we should invest our resources to make a difference.
So when I first became the Mayor of Newham in May 2018, we were dealing with rough-sleeping street count figures of 100+ people. Last month’s Newham Street Count figures found 14 people sleeping rough on our streets or in a doorway in our borough.
While that’s still an unacceptable number, it is a far cry from the scale of challenge we were facing five-years ago because we were committed to ending rough sleeping in Newham.
For instance, since 2021, we’ve been working with the GLA’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation programme which is helping us make such a huge difference to lives of so many people locally who have been supported to get off the streets and into stability.
Despite the hard work we’ve put into ending rough sleeping in our borough, I really worry that we’ll start seeing an increase because homelessness is on the rise.
The stark reality is that more people face the prospect of being forced onto the streets because of the cost of living crisis, rising rents and the way no-fault evictions are used by rogue landlords.
This week, the homeless charity Shelter published figures that showed that rough sleeping in the capital has risen by 38 percent this year alone; with at least 167,000 people in London and 82,000 children facing the festive season without a home.
That’s why life-saving projects like the Peter Bedford scheme in Newham is so vital in offering rough sleepers comfort and the dignity they deserve.
So far, 21 local people in the borough have been given a lifeline through our combined efforts with the GLA. It’s all part of our wider strategy to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. But the government must step up and help us deal with the housing crisis in London which has turned into a full blown emergency.
Our ground breaking Climate Action Just Transition Plan was applauded by councillors at Full Council this week because it offers a credible blueprint to address the unequal impacts of climate change on Newham’s residents. They are disproportionality impacted by the impact of the climate emergency, yet pay the highest costs for climate adaptation.
On Tuesday, COP28 the global conference of climate change concluded (well kind of!), with much hope that it signalled the end of fossil fuels globally. On that day, along with colleagues at London Council’s where I lead on the capital skills and employment; we published a report about the importance of green skills in boosting our London-wide climate goals and bring massive economic opportunities if we get it right.
Lastly if you are madly dashing around trying to fit in the Christmas shopping; why not head to our local high streets and town centres? There you’ll find a great range of festive gifts and food; all the while supporting local businesses! Also, if you’re wanting to get social with friends, family and loved ones don’t forget our fantastic array of restaurants, cafes and other places in our borough offering a delectable range of delicious food from around the world. All part of Newham’s vibrant diversity and our people.
Till next week take care, and stay happy.
Best wishes, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
