London Borough of Waltham Forest

As usual, Dr Bike will be out and about in the borough over the next few weeks helping you with minor fixes and repairs on your cycle. 🚲

All you need to do is grab your cycle and head down to the one closest to you - there's no need to book.

Upcoming Dr Bike events include:

📌Walthamstow Town Square Gardens, Sat 6 June from 10am
📌Langthorne Park, Sat 13 June from 1pm
📌Walthamstow Stadium, Sun 14 June, from 11am

Full details in link in first comment.

Members of the council Cabinet will meet at 2pm today to discuss issues including recruiting fostering carers, housing repairs, and the Healthy Child Programme. You can watch a livestream from 2pm by visiting https://orlo.uk/4Hw3d

Strike action is planned on the Transport for London network this week. Strikes are due to take place on Tuesday 2 June from 00:01 to 23:59 and Thursday 4 June from 00:01 to 23:59. During the strike action, no service is expected on the Circle line, the Piccadilly line, the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street. Please use a journey planner before you travel.

More info: https://orlo.uk/6M0yD

If you live, work, study, or are registered with a GP in Waltham Forest, you can access free and confidential support to help you stop smoking.

The QuitRight team offers advice, information, and one-to-one sessions to support you at your own pace.

All QuitRight sessions are now appointment only, and there are more locations and times available to better support you. You can find the new session times and locations on our Quitting smoking web page (link in comments).

Looking for something to do with the little ones?

There are plenty of free and affordable activities across Waltham Forest to keep children entertained, try something new, and meet other local families.
From craft activities, singing, story and rhyme time, to Lego and film clubs and sensory play sessions, there is lots to choose from. You will also find outdoor play sessions, Dads’ Clubs at weekends, and We Are Friends sessions, where older residents and little ones enjoy stories and rhymes together.

You can find Best Start in Life activities at your nearest Family Hub, library, and in some schools and nurseries.
Take a look at what’s on near you. Link in the comments.

This weekend at Forest Cinemas we have meme-horror Backrooms and piano caper Tuner - both rated 15, meaning guests under 15 will not be admitted. All guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 7pm.

That's alongside a packed programme for all ages including Charlie the Wonderdog, Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

See what's on at Forest Cinemas 👉 https://orlo.uk/0t0md

✨ Warm Words - A Refugee Week gathering at William Morris Gallery on Thursday 18 June

Join Stories & Supper for a powerful evening of poetry, film, food and conversation with refugees and people seeking asylum. Come together to celebrate community, friendship and shared stories, and stand in solidarity at a time when it matters more than ever.

It takes place on Thursday 18 June, from 6.30 to 9pm, in the Gallery Café. FREE but booking is essential. Donations welcome to support the ongoing work of Stories & Supper.

See link in first comment for more information and booking details.

Stories & Supper are part of the William Morris Community Residency. Bringing refugees, people seeking asylum and local residents together, Stories & Supper meet every week at the Gallery to share stories, food and laughter.

Enforcement action by our Neighbourhoods Officers has resulted in this bin storage area being tidied up on this private housing estate in Walthamstow.

If rubbish is on private land, it's the responsibility of the owner or occupier to have it cleared. If they don't do this, then we can serve them with a legal notice to ensure it happens.

Find out more about how to report fly-tipping, dirty front gardens or obstructed walkways 👉 https://orlo.uk/e6Bqz

"My name is Krishna and 10 years ago I had a mental breakdown, and found out quite suddenly and unexpectedly that I suffered with depression. I wanted to do something that would almost reverse the stigma and that's why I created a company called 'The Depressed Baker'. I baked cakes and donated the money to charity. It was to show the beautiful things people with depression are are capable of doing.

"I got very used to sharing with different people who shared their stories with me and it was fantastic. I really enjoyed baking cakes and having people share their stories of living with depression. But one thing I found difficult was that it was only one conversation at a time. Laughing With Strangers (comedy show) is about reducing loneliness. I have a microphone and I'm able to share a story with a whole room full of people.

"I'm so grateful to the people of Waltham Forest for believing in The Depressed Baker and for supporting what I do."

It was lovely chatting to Krishna about why they set up the organisation, how comedy and community has helped their mental health, and the connection they have to the people of Waltham Forest.