A lot to get through in this update - I’m writing to you with my
latest update on the response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic
in
Harrow. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[COVID Update]

Dear
John,

Below is my latest update on the response to the Coronavirus or
COVID-19 pandemic locally. 

Over the past two weeks, Harrow has started to see a noticeable
decline in confirmed cases of coronavirus, a positive sign but there
is still much further to go. My thoughts continue to be with the loved
ones of those who have sadly died, and with those who have contracted
the virus. I can only begin to imagine the sense of fear and loss the
families must be feeling.  As a community, we are immensely grateful
to all of our NHS staff, social care workers and all of our key
workers, who are working tirelessly to help us deal with this crisis.
I hope readers continue to stay safe, stay indoors and regularly check
in on loved ones. 

I continue to update my website
[[link removed]] – covering where to
find support, keep safe and assist local people in Harrow. If you have
anything you would like to me to feature in this update please send me
an e-mail with the subject “Covid-19 newsletter” and be sure to
share this message with friends, family, neighbours and local
businesses in order to strengthen our collective response to COVID-19.
The response to Coronavirus is being directed by Government centrally
working with Public Health England, the Government’s advice
is available here
[[link removed]]
. Government assistance specifically for businesses is available
here [[link removed]] . 

As always, if you ever need to get in touch about the issues covered
here – or anything else – please contact my office on 0207 219
4243 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Please bear
with us, as we have received over 5 times our usual weekly amount of
correspondence. My team and I are working hard to respond as promptly
as possible. Although we have had to cancel face to face surgery
appointments, we are now scheduling regular Zoom surgeries and phone
calls with Harrow West constituents. 

[VE Day 75 Celebrations across Harrow last week, photos from Lucy
Baker]

VE DAY 75 CELEBRATIONS ACROSS HARROW LAST WEEK, PHOTOS FROM LUCY BAKER

PARLIAMENT

[This Week in Parliament]

LOCKDOWN MEASURES

Many constituents will have tuned in to the Prime Minister’s
announcement last Sunday evening. For those unable to watch, the
PM’s announcement meant a light lifting of lockdown measures, people
in England are now allowed out of the house as often as they like for
socially distanced outdoor activities such as exercise, sunbathing or
reading in the park. Individuals are also allowed to meet with someone
(but only one person at a time) who is not a member of their
household, so long as they are outdoors and 2-meter social distancing
rules are observed. People will now also be permitted to drive to
distant destinations (within England). Non-contact outdoor sports such
as tennis, golf and fishing are now also allowed — but only with
members of your own household — as will swimming in rivers, lakes
and the sea, (sadly not a common leisurely activity for us in Harrow).

The proposed relaxation of lockdown has raised a number of questions
about the return to work for those unable to work at home.
Fundamentally, no worker should have their life, or the lives of their
loved ones risked simply by going to work. This is a legal right which
held true before this crisis and crucially must not be cast aside now
- there cannot simply be a return to business as usual. For
constituents that arrive at my surgery with workplace issues, my first
question is always – are you a member of a union? Employers should
be ensuring social distancing is enforced and that a health and safety
assessment is in place. You have a legal right to join a union if you
wish. It’s illegal for an employer to disadvantage you in any way
just because you are a union member.
[[link removed]]

SCHOOLS

Many of my constituents have written to me to address concerns with
the prospective return to schools next month. As a former teacher, I
fundamentally believe that returning to school is a priority for the
sake of pupils’ education and wellbeing. I share concerns that the
attainment gap and inequalities will widen further while schools are
closed but there are clearly serious concerns with the proposed plan
to reopen schools on 1stJune and it does not guarantee safety.
Concerns regarding many of the measures contained within it, including
the feasibility of the social distancing measures proposed and
protection of children, staff and parents, have been raised in recent
days by parents, school leaders, teaching staff and trade unions.
Labour are rightfully urging the government to work collaboratively
with trade unions and parents’ organisations to create a series of
practical safety conditions that must be met within schools before the
government confirms a date for their reopening. This is in the best
interests of children, families and staff.

AGRICULTURE BILL

This week in parliament, MPs voted on the ‘AGRICULTURE BILL’ –
Labour MPs were unable to support the bill without vital safeguards to
ensure our food imports in any potential trade deals meet the same
high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection as is
expected of UK food producers. Given the representation of much of
Britain’s farmland, there was a reasonable Tory rebellion in favour
of a cross-party position, this was to protect British farmers from
the lowering of food standards from abroad. The rebellion from a
number of Tory MPs, however, was unsuccessful, the vote at final
reading broke down - Ayes 277 noes 328. This conservative on
conservative tussle over food standards will continue inside
Government as DEFRA continues to take on the Dept. for International
Trade. I will support and push for Ministers to change course, as
lowering tariffs means that British farms, with their higher welfare
standards, will be unable to compete with US factory farms. 

In my role as a Shadow Minister for International Trade, I have
continued to meet (via Zoom) with various trade bodies and senior
industrial stakeholders to understand what concerns they have
regarding both the trading environment for exporting our goods in
preparation for the Trade Bill next week. 

HARROW COUNCIL

[HC Coronavirus response]

The council has a webpage covering their own response to the
coronavirus pandemic, this is regularly being updated and is
available here.   [[link removed]]

Over £10 billion has been cut from the Local Government Funding
Settlement since 2010. These cuts have left local authorities much
less able to cope with the increasing costs and falling revenue that
have been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s worth remembering
that at the start of the crisis, Ministers told councils to do
whatever they needed to do to keep their communities safe and that
they would have the resources they need to meet this challenge. So
far, the Government has provided £3.2 billion of Covid-19 funding to
local government, but the cross-party Local Government Association is
predicting that the funding gap for local government this year will be
three or four times that.

Local authorities are facing a double hit with both significant losses
to income and increasing demands on services as a result of
Coronavirus. Services from which councils derive income have stopped,
been reduced, or are being offered free of charge during the crisis -
this includes leisure, parking, bus operations and commercial waste
services. So far, due to additional spending and lost income,
Covid-19 is expected to cost Harrow Council just shy of £40 million.
The Government must honour its promise to do ‘whatever it
takes’ to support local councils and not be tempted by another
round of swingeing cuts to Local Authority budgets. This is what I
will continue to push in parliament and something I hope the other
Harrow MPs will do as well.

STARTING TOMORROW, THE TIP WILL RE-OPEN FOR ESSENTIAL USE ONLY:

[Tip updated times]

HEADSTONE MANOR #COVIDINHARROW

Headstone Manor & Museum is undertaking a contemporary collecting
project focused around the current pandemic the world is experiencing.
With lockdowns in place, increased use of social media platforms, food
crises, economic setbacks, medical emergencies, and local government
pressures, this period of uncertainty has affected us all. Headstone
Manor museum believe this is a period of history that needs to be told
for the generations to come and so have launched a collecting project
to capture the impact of the crisis as it unfolds in Harrow, with the
view of framing it within the wider global story. 

The museum are calling on Harrow residents to submit materials for
this collection. Full information on what they are hoping to collect
can be found here.
[[link removed]]

DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT

Harrow Council has a webpage set up specifically to find support
across Harrow and London here.
[[link removed]]
 There has been a steady increase in the number of contacts and
referrals involving Domestic Abuse over the past week, which
reflects some of the trends seen in other parts of London, and other
parts of the country. Harrow Council have had sufficient capacity to
deal with this investigative work in collaboration with the Police and
other agencies.

Domestic abuse is historically an under-reported crime and victims may
now feel even more isolated with less opportunity to access help and
support. With this in mind, the police are now publicising more
information that will help and support communities. 

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or you know a friend, relative
or neighbour who you think is at risk, call the police right away. In
an emergency, always call 999 – high harm domestic abuse calls will
continue to be prioritised. The 24/7 National Domestic Abuse
helpline, which offers support to victims and people affected by
domestic abuse, is free to call on 0808 2000 247. 

EVERYONE ACTIVE, the Council’s leisure contractor, is
providing 20 classes free of charge each week live on the main
Everyone Active Harrow Facebook page 
[link removed] . The classes are open to anyone
and all ages and levels of fitness are catered for. The sessions
include yoga, family fitness, conditioning, family pilates, and cardio
workouts.



SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Harrow Council, Harrow CCG, and Young Harrow Foundation have put
together a joint document
[[link removed]] signposting
residents to a collection of some of the most helpful and trusted
sources of information and guidance for children and young people’s
wellbeing.

For young people (high school and college age), the
document ‘looking after ourselves’ can be found here
[[link removed]] – covering
how to stay healthy, stay connected and learn new skills during this
time.

SUPPORT AND ONLINE RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY

Harrow Council have collected a range of online resources
[[link removed]]
 for all members of the family to keep entertained while libraries
are closed. You will be able to find resource to help with homework,
eBooks, newspapers and magazines and keeping yourself healthy and
motivated.

Counselling services and mental health support

·       Relate Family Mediation 
[[link removed]] - a
service fully geared up to supporting families through the crisis.
Tel: 0300 0032324 or email [email protected].

·       DAWN [[link removed]]  - provide
a counselling service to the local community of Harrow and its
neighbouring boroughs. Tel: 020 8427 6796 or
email: [email protected]

·       Need To Talk [[link removed]]  - offering
1 to 1 counselling supporting their clients or any client by telephone
or webcam. Tel: call/ text on 07427548559 or
email [email protected]

·       Ignite Trust 
[[link removed]]  - During these challenging
and uncertain times, Ignite Trust is working hard to ensure they
continue to provide support to the boroughs most vulnerable and
at-risk young people. Email [email protected].

·        [[link removed]] Every
Mind Matters [[link removed]] - Expert
advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health
and wellbeing.

CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

The council have set up a hotline telephone number to support those in
need of assistance in Harrow, if you are in need of support due to
Covid please give the hotline a call - 0208 901 2698

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

There has been a lot of attention over the past week on the Govt’s
support package for TfL. Transport for London is currently facing a
substantial reduction in income over a period of months due to its
efforts to aid the national effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus
and reduce ridership on the transport network. The Government’s
proposed package has implications on how we can travel – as soon as
practicable, the freedom pass will be suspended during peak hours,
free travel for children will be stopped on TfL services, fares on bus
travel will be reintroduced, the congestion will be reintroduced and
increased  – read more here.  
[[link removed]]

As the Mayor’s statement addresses, there will have to be a
long-term plan to assist TfL and this ultimately goes back to an
unsustainable funding arrangement that has been exacerbated by the
pandemic – _“IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, LONDON HAS BEEN THE ONLY
MAJOR CITY IN WESTERN EUROPE THAT HASN’T RECEIVED DIRECT GOVERNMENT
FUNDING TO RUN DAY TO DAY TRANSPORT SERVICES SINCE IT WAS CUT BY THE
LAST GOVERNMENT. THIS MEANS WE RELY VERY HEAVILY ON PASSENGER FARES TO
PAY FOR THE SERVICES WE RUN. FARES INCOME HAS FALLEN BY 90 PER CENT IN
THE LAST TWO MONTHS BECAUSE LONDONERS HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING AND
STAYED AT HOME – SO THERE SIMPLY ISN’T ENOUGH MONEY COMING IN TO
PAY FOR OUR SERVICES.”__ _  Read the Mayor’s statement here.
[[link removed]]

TfL is working to gradually build up service levels to where they were
before the pandemic and will return the number of buses and trains
running to as close to 100 per cent as soon as possible. TfL is
working closely with staff and the trade unions with the intention of,
by 18 May, increasing service levels to around 85 per cent on the bus
network, at least 70 per cent on the Tube and London Overground (in
line with national rail services), 80 per cent on the DLR and a full
service on TfL Rail. 

FACE COVERINGS - The latest Government advice is that, although face
coverings are unlikely to prevent you from getting the virus, they
could help prevent you from giving it to others. Face coverings are
particularly important where 2m social distancing is hard to
maintain. 

As the Mayor has set out, Londoners are being asked to play their part
in the national effort against the virus and wear facial coverings
whenever travelling on public transport or by taxi or private hire
vehicle. This could help reduce the rate of infection. The Mayor,
Sadiq Khan says _“I am pleased that all TfL frontline staff have
been offered basic face masks. Along with the actions we’re asking
passengers to take and the introduction of hand sanitizer points in
the coming weeks, these additional measures will further protect our
heroic staff and passengers at this critical period.” _

As travel restrictions begin to be lifted, all taxi and private hire
companies are being asked by TfL to put protective measures in place
including ensuring face coverings are worn by drivers. 

[Illustration dedicated to the keyworkers that have been keeping
us going - from TfL]

ILLUSTRATION DEDICATED TO THE KEYWORKERS THAT HAVE BEEN KEEPING US
GOING - FROM TFL

VCS FEEDING HARROW

[HVCS]

The collaborative ‘FEEDING HARROW’ operation – between Harrow
Council, the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS), Harrow Community
Transport (HCT), The Bridge, My Yard, The Breaking Bread Trust,
Stanmore Temple and Mosque, Harrow School and others continues to
operate effectively.

To date, the incredible Harrow Food Bank have donated over 5500 kgs
of food to VCS and continue to contribute a surplus of their food
donations every week. A huge thank you to every group joining in the
combined effort

Over 5000 food deliveries have now taken place across Harrow - VCS
have setup an online system taking direct food requests from
residents -  [/ www.helpharrow.org]www.helpharrow.org
[/ www.helpharrow.org]. All of the Harrow Council and central
government shielded list has already been referred for delivery. 

If you can donate any food - KIND CAFÉ @ THE BRIDGE, WEALDSTONE,
HARROW HA3 5AB

Monday to Friday 10:30AM-4PM, and they larger quantities can be
arranged for collection. 

CAN YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT?

SUPPORTING WOMEN’S AID - Local Harrow based band ‘The Blue
Highways’ have recently released a charity single, a cover of Van
Morrison's 'Days Like This', to help raise money for Women's Aid, a
charity working with victims of domestic abuse within the UK, who are
in need of extra help at this time. You can see the video
here: [link removed]
[/ [link removed]] / Listen to the
excellent cover and donate here: 
[link removed]
[[link removed]]



VOLUNTARY ACTION HARROW, YOUNG HARROW FOUNDATION and HARROW
COMMUNITY ACTION continue to work with Harrow Council to help
coordinate a Harrow wide response to the Coronavirus outbreak and a
database is being compiled of people who are willing to volunteer.
Voluntary Action Harrow are using this database to inform people of
organisations looking for volunteers. Please sign up here: 
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

SPARE ROOM?

My office have been able to match key workers with free rooms for
those with family or housemates self-isolating. If you are able to
temporarily offer a spare room to a key worker currently unable to be
at home due to a family member or a housemate self-isolating, please
get in touch with my office by e-mailing
[email protected] with subject “spare room”.

FINDING SUPPORT

Do you have a medical condition that makes you vulnerable? Please
register.

A reminder, if you think you fall into a category that makes you
vulnerable to coronavirus – register with the Government here
[[link removed]]. For example,
you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential
supplies like food. The council has just started to receive this
information and is working with local organisations to provide support
to those who apply.

If you’re not sure whether your medical condition makes you
extremely vulnerable, register anyway. This service is free. You can
register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.
[[link removed]]

AGE UK is determined to be here for older people and their families
throughout the coronavirus crisis, they have compiled a helpful
coronavirus information pack to access here:
[[link removed]]

 [link removed]
[/ [link removed]]

HARROW TALKING THERAPIES - The coronavirus crisis is unlike anything
many of us will have encountered before and will, at some point, take
its toll on our own mental well-being and the well-being of those
closest to us. For anyone who is struggling with their mental health
at this current time - Harrow Talking Therapies is a FREE NHS service
offering support to those who are finding the current situation
difficult. They offer 1:1 support via telephone or Video call. They
offer bereavement support, anxiety and worry management support, low
mood support and also help if you are self-isolating, or feel isolated
being on your own at this time amongst other support you might be
needing at this time. 

Please get in touch by calling 0208 515 5015 (lines are open
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) or emailing  [email protected]. You will be
assessed very quickly and booked in for treatment quickly too.

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS - The Government are advising the public to be extra
vigilant and be wary of scams related to Covid-19, please read the
Government's guidance here -
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

A COVID-19 COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP has been set-up, coordinating
action within WhatsApp groups for every ward in Harrow in order to
provide support to local residents – you are welcome to  join the
Facebook group here
[[link removed]] 
[[link removed]]and
if you are not a Facebook member but would like to join your ward’s
WhatsApp group – e-mail [email protected] with your postcode
and the coordinators will add you to the correct group.

ST MARY’S CHURCH - If you are in need of support or company – a
visit (where possible), a telephone call, help with shopping etc. St.
Mary’s would like you to get in contact. You can do this in a
variety of ways via the Church Office. The Office is open on Tuesdays
and Thursdays 9am – 2pm but the messages will be checked daily.

Email: [email protected], Tel: 020 8423 4014 (answerphone:
leave your contact details)

HARROW CENTRAL MOSQUE – Harrow Mosque is providing a free food and
essentials transport service to elderly and vulnerable people in
Harrow who require assistance with medical collection or other
essentials – Call or SMS: 07874869484 E-mail:
[email protected]

HELP FROM ME 

I appreciate that whilst this outbreak of Covid-19 is currently
dominating a lot of our thoughts, other concerns and problems do not
disappear. However, to help reduce the spread of infection, I am
asking members of the public who need to contact my office to do so by
phone or email rather than in person and further, I will continue to
hold surgery appointments exclusively by telephone and Zoom video
conferencing. This is a temporary measure and a sensible precaution to
protect vulnerable people. Please be assured we continue to offer a
full service of advice and support to members of the public who need
it.

As always, my office can be contacted
on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 219 4243
(Monday-Friday).

STAY AT HOME AND SAVE LIVES.

Best wishes,

GARETH

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[link removed]