I hope you are well, and for those residents marking Rosh Hashanah this week with loved ones and friends, Shana Tova!
I’ve been talking a lot about all things budget and finance here at the Council over the past few months. In addition to dealing with in-year pressures and overspend forecasts, primarily due to temporary accommodation costs, we are also looking ahead to the 2025/2026 financial year. My Cabinet colleagues and I are working intensively with the Council’s senior leadership team to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring forward proposals that will set a balanced budget for 2025/26 while still delivering essential services for residents and fulfilling our mission of Building a Fairer Newham.
For example, on Tuesday, I met with my Cabinet Members to consider several key issues for the Council, including approving an innovative new scheme to provide more affordable housing for young people. You can watch the full discussion and debate on our YouTube channel. This coming Monday, we’ll be publishing papers for our next Cabinet meeting on 15 October, where the first proposals for the budget will be discussed and agreed upon.
I didn’t want to waste any time in starting conversations with you, our residents, businesses, and voluntary and community groups, about these plans. So that very evening, we are hosting an online session for anyone in the borough, starting at 6pm on Monday. This session will share information on the Council budget, the process we are embarking on, and how you can get involved and have your say throughout the rest of October and early November. Your input is invaluable in helping me and my Cabinet colleagues make decisions about the services you use and what matters to you.
You can find details of all future sessions on our budget campaign website and choose which ones are most suitable for you. There is a mix of online and in-person events, held at different locations across the borough and at various times of day, to make participation as accessible as possible. If you can’t attend a session, there will also be an online survey you can complete. Please do get involved.
As you all know, the main challenge we face in setting a balanced budget, last year, this year, and for the future, is the rising homelessness rates and the costs of providing temporary accommodation for hardworking Newham families in need.
Today, I’ve been in Manchester meeting with Mayor Andy Burnham, who leads the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to discuss the work being done across the region to support those facing homelessness and to help people get into jobs and gain new skills. I visited the phenomenal Mustard Tree, a local homelessness project, to share our experiences in Newham and to see what we can learn from other approaches to managing homelessness and temporary accommodation.
It’s also been really helpful to discuss our shared priorities, such as data and innovation, the future of public services, employment support, building an inclusive economy, and how we locally respond to the climate emergency. We’ve also been looking at ways to retrofit our existing housing stock.
This week marks the start of Black History Month, with events and activities happening across the borough, starting this weekend with a programme of talks, readings, and music at Stratford Library, Custom House Bookshop, and Westfield. Later in the month, there will be activities celebrating Newham’s Black businesses and entrepreneurs, highlighting the economic benefits of the ‘Black pound.’ There will also be opportunities to learn about the cultures and food traditions of the many ethnic groups that make up our wonderfully diverse borough.
Celebrating our diversity while living peacefully together is something we are all grateful for here in Newham, and not something we can take for granted, as the situation across the wider world shows us currently.
As part of our cultural offerings for young people and in line with our Cultural Passport plans, we’re offering hundreds of free tickets for Comic Con 2024 at the ExCel, taking place from 25-27 October. So if you know any young comic and superhero fans, let them know to look out for info on how to win tickets across our social media platforms in the coming week!
We invite you to attend an online session with Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz about the Council’s budget, the work beginning to set our future budget, and how you can get involved. The session will take place online between 6-7pm, on Monday 7 October.
With local governments facing severe financial challenges due to reductions in funding, rising costs, and increased demand, London boroughs like Newham are under significant pressure, particularly in addressing the capital’s housing crisis. As we plan for the next financial year, we need to carefully consider how we allocate our resources.
Why your input is crucial: you will have the chance to have your say in this process, share your feedback and work with us to shape the Council’s spending priorities. Your voice will help us understand which services should be prioritised and where we can adopt new approaches to meet the needs of Newham’s residents.
The Council wants your views on:
Areas where we can save money
Which services should be prioritised
How we can do things differently to improve service delivery
Your feedback is essential to ensure that we continue to provide what matters most to the people of Newham. Join us in this important conversation to help guide the Council’s future budget decisions.
Join Newham Libraries in celebrating Green Libraries Week from 7–13 October
This year, Newham Libraries are offering a fantastic range of upcycling workshops that can help you go green and get creative. Whether you want to give your old furniture a new lease on life, trade your gently worn clothes for fresh finds, or even get your bike serviced, there's something for everyone.
These workshops are designed to inspire sustainable living and show you practical ways to reduce waste in your daily life. It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills, meet like-minded people, and make a positive impact on the environment. Don’t miss out, there’s a host of activities suitable for children and adults alike.
Win exclusive tickets to Comic Con at the ExCel Centre in Newham
Are you a proud parent or guardian of kids aged 11-25 and a resident of Newham? If so, you're in for a treat!
We've got exclusive FREE tickets to Comic Con 2024 at ExCel London
for Friday 25 October just for you! Here's how you can win:
Follow Newham London’s
Instagram, Facebook, or X (Twitter) - you can find links at the bottom of this email.
Then send us a direct message with
'Comic Con 2024' for your chance to win two tickets.
Tickets are limited and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Competition closes on Sunday 13 October 2024 at 5pm.
Get winter strong by getting vaccinated
Flu and Covid-19 spread more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors. Eligible adults are now able to get the free flu and Covid-19 vaccines to protect themselves and those around them.
Getting vaccinated means you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised. The NHS’s winter vaccine programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill.
If you are eligible, you are being urged to take up your free vaccine to get winter strong.
Find your recipe for quitting smoking this Stoptober – and earn rewards for doing so
If you are a smoker and want to take the opportunity to quit smoking this Stoptober, we can help you find your recipe for success!
Expert advisors from Quit Well Newham will be holding drop-in sessions and outreach events throughout October, to raise awareness of the campaign and the support available.
You can also earn up to £50 in BetterPoints by joining Quit Well Newham, and extra points whilst getting active too.
Enjoy free sports equipment at five Newham locations
We are delighted that more than 200 of you have already started taking advantage of our new Equip Sport equipment lockers which have recently been installed across five locations in the borough.
You can simply use the free Equip Sport app to connect to the stations, like the one pictured, and enjoy unlimited access to sports equipment, including footballs, basketballs and table tennis equipment.
The lockers are based at Plaistow Park, Plashet Park, Royal Victoria Gardens, Stratford Park and Warrior Square. They are part of a pilot scheme in partnership with London Sport and Equip.
LGBT+ History Month Community
Arts Grants 2025 Now Open!
Individual
residents, groups and organisations in Newham are invited to apply for grants
of up to £2,000 to deliver events for the national celebrations. In 2025, Schools OUT is celebrating its 50th year and 20
years of LGBT+ History Month in the UK. We are seeking applications for events that:
Recognise and
celebrate Newham-based LGBTQI+ communities
Spotlight
LGBTQI+ histories and legacies in Newham, nationally and internationally
Encourage
open, honest discussion and debate
Motivate
learning, through music, dance and theatrical performances, food and or
clothing
Are you a not-for-profit organisation in Newham? Schools, charities, community and faith groups, and those whose work benefits the residents of Newham, can now apply for grants of up to £5,000.
The Lyle’s Local Fund, set up by Tate & Lyle Sugars, and administered in partnership with Newham Council, is here to support projects that help to create local communities in Newham that are safe, prosperous and healthy.
Need support with your application? Don’t miss the in-person information
session at Stratford Library on Monday 14 October from 1-2.30pm, or the online session via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 24 October from 6-7.30pm.
Applications close on Sunday 3 November 2024 by 11pm.
Black History Month 2024 programme is now launched!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Black History Month 2024 programme, themed
‘Reclaiming Narratives’
There is so much on offer for the whole family to enjoy. Our key highlights include:
Black Pound Markets (12 and 19 October): Celebrate Black businesses and entrepreneurs at Woodgrange Market and Rathbone Market.
Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah (25 October and 1 November): Experience "The Power of Words", a tribute to the renowned poet through spoken word, music, dance, and art.
Grand Finale (26 October): An electrifying night of grime music, showcasing new young talent, produced by Ruff Sqwad Arts Foundation.
Our Newham: Empowering residents and businesses with confidential advice and support
Our Newham is the council’s service exclusively for Newham residents supporting you across five programmes: Money, Work, Business & Enterprise, Learning & Skills and Youth.
From helping residents maximise their income and kickstarting career journeys to supporting local businesses and start-ups, find out how Our Newham can help give you the boost you need at: www.newham.gov.uk/ournewham or come and visit us at 112-118 The Grove, E15 1NS
