We’ve got your winter wrapped

22/11/2024

Winter is a great time to come together as a community - whether that’s celebrating the festive period or supporting one another through the colder months. We’re wrapping everything up for winter in one bundle, so you know that we’ve got you covered.

Cost of living support

We know winter can be a tough time financially. Many of us are looking for ways to cut back on our spending. That’s why we’ve pulled together our cost of living support page. We can point you in the right direction for whatever help and advice you might need.

One resident approached us for support when the housing element of her Universal Credit was stopped. We worked with her to get that payment reinstated, and she received a backdated payment for the months lost. This enabled her to stay in the home and area that she loves.

“Yes, there are organisations where they do lots of things,” she said. “But they’re not like you. Your staff are amazing.”

Cost of living support

Image of a man giving out bags to a local resident. Below text reads: Kindness Day Tuesday 26 November, 10am to 2pm Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD Do you or someone you know need support to keep warm this winter? If the increasing costs of the festive season are becoming too much, come along to the Teviot Centre, where our partners the Hill Group will be giving away warm clothes and festive gifts. In exchange for the items they are encouraging pledges of kindness, rather than money.

Image of a young girl at a bubble event. Text reads: The ultimate bubble show - come and join the fun! A dazzling display of bubbles filled with creative and original tricks that will mesmerise and entertain audiences of all ages. Sunday 8 December, 2pm to 3pm The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA £6 per person or £10 for a family ticket (one adult and one child)

Image of a large group of local residents at last year's Elders Christmas Lunch. Text reads: Elders Christmas Lunch - Let's falalala together! An opportunity for residents over 60 to enjoy a delicious three-course Christmas meal, with music, carols and a festive raffle. Thursday 19 December, 1pm to 4pm - The Feldy 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA. £6 per person.

Image about an upcoming event. Image of a Christmas gift with photo of a man in Christmas outfit. Text reads: Christmas Market - Thursday 19 December, 12pm to 4pm; The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA We'll be rockin' around the Christmas tree. Follow trails of twinkling lights and warm your hands with a cup of hot drink as you weave through chalets bursting with unusual gifts from local traders.

Festive events

Our community centres have got a whole host of exciting festive events taking place this winter.

Kindness Day

Tuesday 26 November, 10am to 2pm
Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD

Do you need support to help keep warm this winter? If the increasing costs of the festive season are becoming too much, our partners the Hill Group are launching a kindness shop in the Teviot Centre. If you need warm clothes or festive gifts, come along. In exchange for the items they are encouraging pledges of kindness, rather than money.

Spotlight Winter Fest

Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December
30 Hay Currie Street, E14 6GN

Young people can enjoy a whole host of fun activities – from music workshops to theatre, along with a free festive feast on Friday 6 December.

Book here

The Ultimate Bubble Show

Sunday 8 December, 2pm to 3pm
The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA
£6 per person or £10 for a family ticket (one adult and one child)

A dazzling display of bubbles filled with creative and original tricks that will mesmerise and entertain audiences of all ages.

To book tickets call 020 7515 6794

Christmas event at the Teviot

Friday 13 December, 3pm to 6pm
Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD

Come to the Teviot for a Santa’s Grotto, choir performance, family activities and games.

Free hot chocolate at the Teviot

Monday 16 December, 3pm to 4.30pm
Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD

Get your free hot chocolate at the Teviot. Limited to one per person on a first come first served basis. There will be dairy free options available.

Santa’s craft shop

Wednesday 18 December, 3pm to 5pm
Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD

Enjoy craft activities for the whole family, including Christmas card and wreath making. There will also be a competition with prizes available.

Elders Christmas Lunch

Thursday 19 December, 1pm to 4pm
The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA
£6 per person

An opportunity for residents over 60 to enjoy a delicious three-course Christmas meal, with music, carols and a festive raffle.

To book get in touch with your nearest community centre

Christmas Market

Thursday 19 December, 12pm to 4pm
The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA

Follow trails of twinkling lights and warm your hands with a cup of hot drink as you weave through chalets bursting with unusual gifts from local traders.

Tips for fire-safe festivities

We want to make sure you celebrate the festive period safely. So we’ve pulled together some top tips on a fire safe Christmas:

test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working
don’t leave cooking unattended
don’t cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol – a takeaway or food delivery is much safer
keep decorations away from lights or heaters – they can overheat and catch fire
check Christmas lights meet safety standards – they should be CE or kitemarked
switch off Christmas lights at night and when you go out
consider using LED battery tea lights instead of candles
if you do use candles, keep them away from decorations, curtains or anything else that could catch fire and never leave them burning unattended
take extra care when smoking if you’ve been drinking alcohol – make sure cigarette butts have been extinguished
make sure you know your fire escape plan and share this with everyone in your household and any guests staying over Christmas

Let’s help make this a safe Christmas

We want to make sure that this a safe Christmas for all. Over Christmas, the number of domestic incidents increases.

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical; it can also be emotional, financial, or sexual. It may include controlling behaviour, keeping someone away from friends and family, using threats, or monitoring their use of technology. Abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, or background.

Signs to look out for that could mean someone is experiencing domestic violence

Play Video

Key signs to watch for include:

being isolated from family and friends
physical injuries like bruises or burns
control over finances or access to basic needs
restrictions on leaving home or attending work/school
monitoring of communication or internet use
constant belittling
pressure for unwanted sexual contact

If you recognise these signs from someone in your life, or you know someone else who may be experiencing some of these signs, you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Help is available 24/7.

If you feel that there is immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the Police. If you can’t speak and are calling on a mobile press 55 to have your call transferred to the Police.

Get in touch with our Community Safeguarding team

Making sure your home is ready for winter

We know that winter poses challenges for your home – whether that’s keeping warm or avoiding damp and mould. The best way to make sure your home is ready for the winter is to book a property MOT. We’ll check the general condition of your home and book in any work that might be needed. It’s also a great opportunity for you to report any repair issues you may have.

Book in a property MOT

We take damp and mould very seriously. Since April 2023, we’ve partnered with Zap Carbon to visit and assess your homes to check on the risk of mould and damp.

Humidity, temperature and ventilation levels are all checked to get an estimate of how likely mould is to appear. Each home gets a rating of its health. Where needed, steps are taken to make improvements that will keep you safe and healthy.

The Healthy Homes experts also remove existing mould with a non-toxic, child and pet safe mould remover. They then apply a patented Mould Shield to affected surfaces. This makes it much harder for mould to grow back.

Report mould or condensation

We’ve also pulled together some quick tips you can use in your home to prevent mould and condensation.

Tips on how to keep your home mould free

New year, new you: free training opportunities at The Hive

Looking to try out something new in 2025? The Hive, our employment and training service, has lots of free training available to help you boost your skills, build your confidence and improve your employability.

Check out our free courses