Southwark LifeWinter 2020 COVID-19 update Get the latest on restrictions and support No one left behind Meet the new Leader of the Council Driving ambition We speak to George, a Peckham resident now working for Formula One Christmas is coming All the info you need for Christmas and winter Your magazine from Southwark Council Who can have the flu vaccine? The flu vaccine is given to people who: • are 65 and over (including those who’ll be 65 by 31 March 2021) • have certain health conditions The• are flu pregnant virus kills thousands every year. 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SummerWinter 2020 2018 Contents 4 Need to know All the news from around the borough. 6 COVID update The latest on the restrictions welcome... and support available. 8 Meet our new Leader It is an honour to be elected as Leader of Southwark We speak to the new Leader of the Council, Cllr Kieron Williams. Council. As Leader, I want to work with everyone 10 All change Meet our new in Southwark to keep building a better future and Cabinet members and hear about unlocking the amazing potential I see in every part of the council’s priorities following our community. the COVID crisis. 13 Hidden homes We chat to a new resident of one of our Never has that potential been clearer than during this Hidden Homes. pandemic. Seeing volunteers, frontline workers, public 14 Don’t be lonely services, charities, faith groups and businesses all step Support for people facing up together has been truly inspiring. loneliness this Christmas. 17 Let’s get digital Sadly the pandemic is far from over and following a Everyone is getting online during lockdown, find out how sharp rise in cases and hospital admissions, England to join them. has gone back into tighter restrictions. Our continued 18 Christmas is coming response to COVID-19 remains our top priority. All the info you need about Christmas and winter Although COVID-19 is the most pressing and urgent preparations this year. 20 Council House Britain issue we face, it is not our only challenge. The unequal Meet one of the stars of the impact of the pandemic on different communities has recent Channel 4 documentary. shone a light on wider inequalities and injustice in our 22 Driving ambition We speak society. My ambition as Leader is to unite communities to local young entrepreneur George Imafidon. in Southwark so we can break down that inequality, 24 Climate conference Read and not just rebuild from the crisis, but build about our Climate conference something better. A Southwark where everyone has as we kick-start our Climate a home, where everyone can get a decent job, where Emergency work. we end our carbon emissions and where everyone is 26 Echoes of the past Our history page looks at empowered to make the best of their life. the last time Southwark faced a pandemic. This edition of Southwark Life includes current 28 Festive fun Keep the kids information about COVID-19 restrictions as well as entertained this Christmas with updates on our climate emergency work and new our What’s On guide. homes building programme, the awe-inspiring story of 30 Take control of your health We look at the Alive N a local young entrepreneur and so much more. Kicking programme for healthy family support. Cllr Kieron Williams 31 Business news What our Leader of Southwark Council local businesses need to know. Contact us The Southwark Life team Keep in touch Do you have something to say about Editor Kim Hooper Southwark Life comes out three times a year and the Southwark Life? Write to: Your letters, Contributors Justin Ashworth, Dr Patricia Dark, next issue is due out in spring 2021. You can contact the Southwark Life, Fourth Floor North, Laura Fitzsimmons, Jane Evans. Emily Bakosi. Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street Ella Rogers, Sophie Adams, Joseph Brown. magazine at [email protected] but London, SE1 2QH or Aine Gallagher for more regular updates on council news and events, email [email protected] Design Whatever Design Ltd follow us on social media at Print brokered by Swiss Post facebook.com/southwarkcouncil Our front cover star is Peckham-born Printed on 100% recycled paper George Imafidon (see interview on Distribution London Letterbox @lb_southwark page 22). Content is correct at time of going to print and Instagram.com/southwarkcouncil assumes the national restrictions will be lifted on 2 December as planned. southwark.gov.uk 3 Voting safely at next Need to know... year’s elections The Greater London Authority elections are due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 and we are It’s been a very challenging already making plans to help you stay safe while few months and the COVID-19 casting your vote. You will still be able to vote in person at your polling station but you may like to pandemic remains in the consider voting by post. headlines across the country – Please apply now to ensure you receive your postal vote with plenty of time to complete it and return but in Southwark there is plenty it to us at the election. Visit https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote to more still going on. Read on to find out more. find out more. If you have recently moved house you should also apply to register for your new address online at For news and events follow us on social media or find www.gov.uk/register-to-vote out more at southwark.gov.uk/news Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/southwarkcouncil Congratulations to our Follow us on very own MBE foster carer Twitter @lb_southwark We are delighted to announce that Southwark Follow us on foster carer Gloria received an MBE, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, for an outstanding service to Instagram Instagram.com/southwarkcouncil the community. Her social worker said ‘Gloria has been a foster carer for Southwark Council for 27 years. Gloria’s ability to love children and young people unconditionally really creates that turning point in their lives, when they ULEZ is expanding into begin to feel accepted for who they are, which has Southwark – have you such a positive impact on their self-esteem.’ One of her messages of support also came from a checked your vehicle? young person whom she fostered: ‘A saying that I have taken through to my adulthood that Gloria From Monday 25 October 2021, the central London would always stress was “to always remain happy and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding as positive no matter what life throws at you”.’ part of the campaign to clean up London’s air, and will cover parts of Southwark. Are you the sort of person that can remain positive and help a young person going through challenging The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, times? Why not consider fostering? Contact including weekends (except Christmas day), with [email protected] or call 0800 952 0707. a £12.50 daily charge for vehicles that do not meet Find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/fostering the required emissions standards. Cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) will need Contact your councillors to meet the required ULEZ emissions standards We know that in these difficult times people still need when driving within and into the expanded zone, the support of their local representatives, but to keep or pay a daily charge. residents and councillors safe, the ward surgeries Four out of five cars already meet the ULEZ were closed. We are currently looking at how we can emissions standards, but we need owners of the restart these safely, including in a virtual format, and remaining older cars, motorcycles, lighter van and we will keep you up to date through our councillor minibuses to take action. web pages at www.southwark.gov.uk/mycouncillor Check your vehicle meets the ULEZ emissions In the meantime if you need to get in touch with your standards and the interactive map of the zone. ward councillor, please use phone or email. The list of Visit tfl.gov.uk/ulez-2021 contact details can be found on the same link. 4 southwark.gov.uk Winter 2020 Helping people find work in Southwark Southwark Works is a free employment service, funded by the council, for local job seekers and employers. It provides friendly and expert-led support for Southwark residents of all ages and backgrounds, creating better work opportunities in our community. If you are looking for a job, they assign you a personal adviser and offer help throughout each stage of your career.